Wales manager, Craig Bellamy, told AFP on Friday that he “feels a responsibility” to lead his team to this summer’s World Cup, ahead of a crucial home play-off against Bosnia and Herzegovina later this month.
Since taking over as Wales boss in July 2024, the former Manchester City and Liverpool forward has impressed, with the World Cup in North America now within reach.
Wales earned a spot at Qatar 2022 under former coach Rob Page, marking their first World Cup appearance in 64 years, an achievement for a nation of just over three million.
For Bellamy, guiding his native Wales to football’s premier tournament again would “definitely have to be up there” in his list of accomplishments.
But more importantly, he believes, it maintains momentum. “For us, to where we have been to now, we’ve got to keep looking to qualify, keep being in the major tournaments because it allows us to grow. Football in the last 10, 12 years has really grown in Wales.
“The excitement with people, with our game, has been really big. You want to keep hold of that.”
Bellamy, who earned 78 caps for Wales and scored 19 goals, added: “So I feel a responsibility to keep this going.”
The 46-year-old was in Hong Kong to launch the HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens, a tournament featuring two of his former clubs, West Ham and Newcastle, but his focus remains on Bosnia and Herzegovina. Wales will play in front of an expectant Cardiff crowd on March 26.
A victory would set up a home tie against Italy or Northern Ireland for a place at the finals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
– ‘It doesn’t sit well’ –
Turning to the Premier League, where Bellamy scored 81 goals, set pieces, particularly corners, have become a major weapon, especially for leaders Arsenal.
Some critics have raised concerns about the game’s increasing reliance on dead-ball situations, with Liverpool manager Arne Slot remarking that his “football heart” does not approve of the trend.
Bellamy, who predicts Arsenal will stay ahead of Manchester City to claim the title, believes “there’s no right or wrongs in styles.” Yet he stresses the importance of seeing the ball in play more often to enhance the spectacle of the league.
“If you’re taking a certain period of time to take the set play, it’s a problem,” he said.
“The best thing with our game is the speed, that’s why it’s the biggest and the best league. We can’t mess about with our market.”
He also weighed in on the growing trend of goalkeepers faking injuries as a tactical ploy, something recently seen in matches.
“It’s a coach’s responsibility to use every trick he can,” Bellamy said.
“But I’m not a fan. We have discussed it, you have to, but to me it doesn’t sit well.”
