Bellamy's Wales make whirlwind impact by prioritising pride over patience

The Guardian

10-06-2025

It was perhaps the best indicator of an unforgettable evening and, fortunately, even in defeat, there was a happy ending. The supporter who went tumbling from the upper tier to the lower tier as he celebrated Wales pulling level at 3-3 against Belgium on Monday, having trailed 3-0 after 27 minutes, was treated at hospital and got off lightly, the only lasting damage a minor broken bone in his back. 'Sore this morning, mind,' 29-year-old Scott Rees posted on social media. Another supporter, in Block B of the King Baudouin Stadium, saw his wallet gain wings after Brennan Johnson's headed equaliser.
It was that kind of night in Brussels. It was a strange one, too, given it was hard for any of the 4,500 travelling supporters to be too downbeat despite ultimately losing the game 4-3, an unmarked Kevin De Bruyne bypassing Johnson to ghost in at the back post to snatch an 88th-minute winner. It was not a defeat without any ramifications – Wales are now second in Group J behind North Macedonia and Belgium will surely be favourites to qualify for the World Cup from here – but it was one where pride quickly trumped any disappointment. Stoke's Sorba Thomas perhaps put it best. 'They thought it was done,' said the winger. 'We showed the Welsh fight, the Welsh fire.'
Craig Bellamy was uncomfortable with his first defeat since taking charge almost 12 months ago being painted as a brave loss, but he was delighted with the way his players responded to Jérémy Doku, whose quick feet troubled Wales throughout, making it 3-0. 'I don't like losing, I understand the game but how you lose is more important,' said the Wales manager. 'Who are you as a person? Who is your team? I see that and I'm beyond proud. We're a good team.'
As Ben Davies, the Wales captain who recently extended his stay at Tottenham, led his teammates towards the away end after the final whistle, Bellamy was engrossed in conversation with Romelu Lukaku, having enjoyed a word with De Bruyne and Doku. Bellamy did not divulge the details but said those conversations included Belgium's big-hitters acknowledging Wales's endearing approach when many would have considered it an exercise in damage limitation.
This time last year Wales were fresh off a 4-0 pasting by Slovakia which ultimately cost Bellamy's predecessor and former teammate, Rob Page, his job. That was three days after an experimental side laboured to a 0-0 draw against Gibraltar, then 203rd in the Fifa rankings. It is impossible not to recognise the strides Wales have taken under Bellamy. Asked whether they were ahead of schedule on the eve of the Belgium game, the 45-year-old was keen to downplay the turnaround before eventually caving in. '[With] the speed of progress, yeah. I was trying to not but, of course,' he said.
Bellamy does not indulge in managerial cliche – just listen to his existential life advice on the eve of the game – and nor does he have time for buzzwords. He cuts to the chase. His record is now one slender, late defeat across 10 matches. 'I just think it shows, all the time we're always asking for time, asking to be patient, it's a process, blah, blah, blah,' he said. 'Get to work. That's it. Players are cleverer than you think. Players are good footballers. Let them be good footballers. Give them the tools. Work. Run. Press. React. Lose it, get it back.'
The manager highlighted how both teams gained momentum from the opposition failing to absorb the setback of conceding penalties, both of which were questionable, the first against Johnson for handball and the second against Matz Sels, for colliding with Chris Mepham. Defeat in Belgium will not sit heavy on Bellamy or his players and they will aim to build on the wave of momentum generated by a promising start to qualifying.
'This is like a one-off opportunity for me, I'm only going to be the Wales manager for a short period and it's an honour,' Bellamy said. 'This was the one I always wanted to do so I'm going to enjoy every second. I read something in the Belgium media … 'Easy way to the USA?' There's a lot of life in this group and I saw a lot of life in this team. We ain't going anywhere. I will have a couple of weeks now of recharging. I'm beyond proud and just really excited about the future.'