Wales World Cup Asset: Bellamy Sees Qualifying Team As A Key To World Cup Success

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Craig Bellamy believes Wales would bring real value to the World Cup, if qualification is secured through the play-offs. Wales are two wins away from reaching the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, with a semi-final against Bosnia and Herzegovina followed by a potential home decider against Italy or Northern Ireland.

Bellamy has guided Wales back into contention after the 2022 World Cup, when the team ended a wait stretching back to 1958 for a place at the finals. That breakthrough also came through the play-offs, with Wales defeating Austria and Ukraine, and Bellamy now feels this group is ready to repeat that achievement on a bigger stage.

Bellamy explained that personal history as a player shapes this coaching spell, yet feels this campaign is different in nature and meaning. "I definitely carry good and bad from my [playing] career, but this journey now into coaching is a totally new and different experience," Bellamy said. "I look at it that way now with this group, and I honestly feel we should be at this tournament."

The head coach stressed that the squad must still earn qualification through performance and intensity across both fixtures. "Now we’re going to have to work hard to get there, but I honestly believe we’ll be a massive asset to this World Cup. Our players will be, our fans will be, and our coaching team will be. We’ll add to this."

Wales enter the play-offs with strong home form in competitive matches. The team have won five of the last six such games on Welsh soil, scoring 20 times and registering at least two goals in each of the most recent five. That spell includes a 7-1 victory against North Macedonia in November, the first time Wales scored seven in a match since beating Malta 7-0 in October 1978.

Bellamy also pointed to sustained progress in elite European competition. "We’re in the A Nations League and play-offs consistently. We’re a serious football nation, and we’ve proved that over the last 12 odd years. We have two games now to keep this marching." Those fixtures now decide whether that progress leads to another World Cup appearance.

Historical results against Bosnia and Herzegovina do not favour Wales, despite current momentum. Wales have not won any of the four previous meetings, with two draws and two defeats. Only Serbia, including meetings with Yugoslavia, plus the Netherlands and Sweden, have faced Wales more times without losing.

Beyond team trends, Harry Wilson has become a central attacking figure during recent international windows. Wilson has contributed to 17 goals in the last 20 appearances for Wales, scoring 11 and assisting six. Over the most recent 12 internationals, Wilson has been even more productive, with nine goals and three assists.

Wilson is often discussed as a possible long-term successor to Gareth Bale, though Wilson has rejected that idea. "We can’t replace Bale," Wilson told BBC Sport Wales. "He was our best ever player. He carried us through games, he got us to major tournaments, and the performances he put in, in those tournaments, were incredible. I never saw it as ‘I have to replace Bale’, I just knew along with the other attacking players, we’ve got massive boots to fill, a big void to fill. As a collective, we have to do that. I’m really happy with the way I’ve played and my numbers since Gaz left. But it definitely wasn’t the case of me replacing him, because no one can do that."

With Bosnia and Herzegovina first, then a home final against Italy or Northern Ireland, Wales stand on another decisive path. Strong recent scoring form, Wilson’s influence and Bellamy’s belief now converge on two matches that will decide whether Wales again take a place on the World Cup stage.