Craig Bellamy has declared that Wales would be a 'massive asset' to the World Cup if they can navigate their way through the playoff semi-final against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday. Speaking at the team's base in Hensol, the head coach urged his players to embrace the occasion rather than succumb to pressure.
Bellamy drew a comparison with Usain Bolt to illustrate his point: 'He's smiling, waving – all right, it does help he knows he can run at 60% to win – but he has discovered the art of being relaxed and calm to be able to run at his best speed. If you're tense, you're fighting yourself.' The 46-year-old stressed that enjoying the moment is crucial for elite performance.
The prize on offer is a place at successive World Cups, following Wales's qualification for Qatar 2022. However, Bellamy acknowledged the challenge ahead, particularly after missing Euro 2024 following a playoff defeat to Poland on penalties. 'I honestly feel we should be at this tournament – now we're going to have to work hard to get there – but I believe we'll be a massive asset to this World Cup: our players, our fans and our coaching team,' he said.
Bellamy has done extensive research on Bosnia and Herzegovina, noting that only 11 of their 35-man squad were born in the country, with the rest coming from the Netherlands, Germany and Sweden. He also referenced his interest in Balkan history, recalling the 1992 European Championship when Yugoslavia was expelled and Denmark won as replacements.
The manager confirmed that Ben Davies will miss the match through injury, with Ethan Ampadu deputising as captain. Since taking over nearly two years ago, Bellamy noted that Wales rank sixth among European nations in possession statistics, with only Montenegro and England enjoying more of the ball against them. 'There won't be any regrets, we're not that way … whether the result goes our way or not, I know we'll give everything,' he insisted.
Looking beyond the playoffs, Bellamy hopes to build a team capable of topping their qualifying group to avoid such high-stakes encounters in future. 'But I'd much prefer to finish No 1 and not have to go through any of it,' he added. The winner of Thursday's semi-final will host the final five days later for a place at the World Cup.
