Craig Bellamy, with his front-foot approach, wants to extend his unbeaten run
WALES embark on another World Cup qualifying campaign this Saturday when they host Kazakhstan in Cardiff.
Craig Bellamy’s side are coming off the back of a Nations League group win in November which saw them thrash Iceland 4-1 at the Cardiff City Stadium to claim top spot.
Bellamy remains unbeaten since he took over from Rob Page in July, 2024.
This Nations League triumph has likely already ensured Wales of a play-off place to secure progress to the finals next summer, but they will be looking to win their group to guarantee a spot in the USA.
Who will they face?
Wales and Kazakhstan are joined in Group J by Belgium, North Macedonia and Liechtenstein.
On paper Y Dreigeiu’s toughest challenge will be games against Belgium later this year but getting off to a good start this week, in games that they are expected to win, is crucial.
The visit of Kazakhstan, a side ranked 110th in the world, provides the perfect opportunity to do this.
They are winless in their last six matches in UEFA competitions, failing to score a single goal in the process.
Bellamy’s men then travel to Skopje to face North Macedonia on Tuesday.
Bellamy has Wales ticking
Wales’s form since last summer has been impressive.
Bellamy has overseen victories over Montenegro and Iceland but it is the improvement in performances that has been most notable.
Under predecessor Page, the football was stale and predictable with the side struggling to adapt to a post Gareth Bale era.
A fresh approach was needed, and Cardiff-born Bellamy has implemented a front-foot approach centred around a core of young, promising players.
The victory over Iceland in November exemplified this. In the second half, Wales were fluid and incisive.
They won the ball back high up the pitch on countless occasions and looked to break quickly using the pace of Brennan Johnson and Dan James.
The former’s goal was a prime example of the football that Bellamy wants to play. The Tottenham Hotspur winger reacted quickly in transition to provide teammate Harry Wilson with an option to play a defence splitting pass.
Wales were aggressive in their press and looked to win the ball back high up the pitch.
This is a trait seen in many top sides and is key to the way Vincent Kompany, who Bellamy worked with at Anderlecht and Burnley, sets up his teams.
The level of opposition that Wales have faced in Bellamy’s first few months in charge needs to be accounted for, but there is now an identity and a long-term vision for Wales to compete with the very best.
In less than a year in charge, Bellamy has already secured his nation promotion to Nations League A and wants to add World Cup qualification to an already impressive coaching cv.
“If we get there [to a World Cup], we want to be competing,” he said in November.
“These players deserve to be there because of their buy in. When you have a group like that it makes you humble.”
Team news: Ramsey and Colwill out, Lawrence back in
Cardiff City’s Aaron Ramsey misses out on Bellamy’s first squad of 2025 after the midfielder suffered a hamstring injury in Cardiff’s home defeat to Luton Town two weeks ago.
There is also no place for Rubin Colwill who has not featured enough for Cardiff to be considered for selection.
Tom Lawrence returns from the international wilderness after an absence of nearly four years.
The Rangers star, who was repeatedly overlooked by Page, will add experience in midfield.
The squad in full:
Danny WARD (Leicester City), Karl DARLOW (Leeds United), Adam DAVIES (Sheffield United), Ben DAVIES (Tottenham Hotspur), Joe RODON (Leeds United), Chris MEPHAM (Sunderland – on loan from Bournemouth), Ben CABANGO (Swansea City), Connor ROBERTS (Burnley), Neco WILLIAMS (Nottingham Forest), Jay DASILVA (Coventry City), Tom LAWRENCE (Rangers), Joe ALLEN (Swansea City), Josh SHEEHAN (Bolton Wanderers), Jordan JAMES (Stade Rennais), Ollie COOPER (Swansea City), Kai ANDREWS (Motherwell – on loan from Coventry City), Sorba THOMAS (Nantes – on loan from Huddersfield Town), David BROOKS (Bournemouth), Kieffer MOORE (Sheffield United), Brennan JOHNSON (Tottenham Hotspur), Daniel JAMES (Leeds United), Liam CULLEN (Swansea City), Nathan BROADHEAD (Ipswich Town), Mark HARRIS (Oxford United), Lewis KOUMAS (Stoke City – on loan from Liverpool), Rabbi MATONDO (Hannover 96 – on loan from Rangers).
