
Craig Bellamy: Wales World Cup qualification hopes alive despite loss to Belgium
Wales lost a seven-goal thriller in Brussels after fighting back from a 3-0 deficit, only for Kevin De Bruyne to deliver a gut punch two minutes from time.
It was Bellamy's first defeat in 10 games in charge and Wales were also knocked off top spot in Group J by North Macedonia, 1-0 winners in Kazakhstan.
Until the end. Yma o Hyd ♥️ pic.twitter.com/82UbgVhDy2
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) June 9, 2025
Belgium are three points behind Wales with two games in hand, and will visit Cardiff in October for the return fixture.
The group winners will qualify automatically for next summer's finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States, with Wales almost certainly guaranteed a play-off place through their Nations League results.
Wales manager Bellamy said: 'I think I read something from the Belgium media – 'an easy way to the USA'?
'There's a lot of life in this group and today I saw a lot of life in this team. We aren't going anywhere.
'I will have a couple of weeks now of recharging but I'm beyond proud and really excited about the future.'
Belgium led 3-0 inside 27 minutes through Romelu Lukaku – a controversial penalty awarded after De Bruyne's shot hit the hand of Brennan Johnson – Youri Tielemans and Jeremy Doku.
Harry Wilson gave Wales hope from the penalty spot ahead of the break before Sorba Thomas, with his first Wales goal, and Johnson put the visitors back on level terms.
Bellamy said: 'I don't like losing. I understand the game but how you lose is more important.
'Who are you as a person? Who is your team? I see that and I'm beyond proud. We're a good team.
'To come to a top-eight team and can we play the way we want to play? I think the Belgium players saw it as well. I won't tell you what we discussed.'
Bellamy had promised to go on the attack in Brussels before the game and not sit back and defend against opponents ranked eighth in the world.
He said: 'I understand results, I really do. But football means more to me than that. It always has done.
'I'd rather try something great and fail than do nothing and succeed. I've always been that way.
'I might not be great at anything but I'll try to be. It means more. I liked that.
'I said I wasn't coming to sit back, it's not in my nature, don't do it … it's not our culture, it's not who we are.
'So for me it was, 'can we come to a top-eight team in the world then and come and play?'.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Leader Live
39 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Tuesday's briefing: Bellamy defiant after Wales loss as Scotland bounce back
Meanwhile, Tottenham continue to close in on Brentford's Thomas Frank as their new boss and appear willing to meet the latter's £10million release clause to get their man. England look to shrug off their struggle to sink minnows Andorra with head coach Thomas Tuchel aware there is plenty of room for improvement ahead of their clash with Senegal. Bellamy's pride in Lions ⏰ FT | 🇧🇪 4-3 🏴 An enthralling encounter comes to an end in Brussels. 💻 — Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) June 9, 2025 Craig Bellamy refused to be downhearted after tasting defeat for the first time as Wales boss after an extraordinary seven-goal thriller in Belgium. Wales clawed back from 3-0 down to draw level in a match blighted by lengthy VAR checks before Kevin De Bruyne broke the visitors' hearts by sealing a late 4-3 win for the hosts. The defeat meant Wales were knocked off the top of World Cup qualifying group J by North Macedonia, following their 1-0 win in Kazakhstan. But Bellamy said: 'There's a lot of life in this group and today I saw a lot of life in this team. We aren't going anywhere. 'I will have a couple of weeks now of recharging, but I'm beyond proud and really excited about the future.' Clarke's delight as Scots get back on track Scotland head coach Steve Clarke was satisfied with the way his side bounced back from their 3-1 defeat to Iceland at Hampden Park as they strolled to a 4-0 friendly win in Liechtenstein. Having only scored once in his 19 previous internationals, Che Adams hit a hat-trick and George Adams grabbed his first international goal to restore a mood of optimism in the Scotland camp. 'Our players had a little bit of anger in the performance at the start of the game – they knew that they'd let themselves down in the previous match,' said Clarke. 'So, to start well and get the early goal makes it more comfortable and it's nice to build on that with another three goals. Teams maybe win here but not too many come and score four goals.' Tuchel wants England improvement Thomas Tuchel has conceded England still have plenty of improvements to make as they prepare to face Senegal in a friendly at Wembley. The new head coach was far from pleased with the way his side laboured to a 1-0 win against minnows Andorra in their World Cup qualifier at the weekend. Ahead of their clash with the African side, Tuchel said: 'We need to improve, for sure. We need to improve in connections, in support, in interactions in the group. 'I feel we are too isolated on the pitch. We have not clicked yet. I don't see it has clicked between the players. 'We haven't done that yet, but it's also not the moment to look only on the negative side. We have a lot of positives to take away in training and in the sessions I see a lot of it, and it will obviously take a little bit to translate it to the pitch.' Spurs close in on Frank Tottenham are closing in on making Brentford boss Thomas Frank their next head coach, the PA news agency understands. Spurs sacked Ange Postecoglou on Friday, despite Europa League success, and quickly set their sights on Frank – who has gained admirers for his work over an impressive seven-year period at the west London club. After positive discussions over the weekend, there is a growing confidence that Frank – whose contract contains a release clause reported to be in the region of £10million – will be the man to replace Postecoglou. In the zone 💫 — England (@England) June 9, 2025 England face Senegal in a Wembley friendly as Thomas Tuchel continues to survey his options for their continuing World Cup qualifying campaign. The Republic of Ireland are in friendly action in Luxembourg while Northern Ireland host Scotland's recent conquerors Iceland at Windsor Park.


North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Nathan Collins hopes Thomas Frank remains at Brentford after international break
The PA news agency understands Spurs are closing in on the Dane to replace the sacked Ange Postecoglou, after former manager Mauricio Pochettino ruled himself out of the running. Bees defender Collins admitted it had been difficult to avoid the rumours as he and his international team-mates prepared for Tuesday night's friendly in Luxembourg. We are delighted to confirm the signing of Caoimhín Kelleher from Liverpool on a five-year contract, with club option of an additional year ✍️ — Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) June 3, 2025 The 24-year-old said: 'Every time I turn on the TV, I see it. I can't get away from it, unfortunately. 'But I have my own problems with the game tomorrow, staying fit and looking after myself. I haven't taken too much of an interest.' Since the squad first assembled in Dublin ahead of Friday night's friendly draw with Senegal, Collins has been joined at the Gtech Community Stadium by Ireland colleague Caoimhin Kelleher after the keeper completed an £18million move from Liverpool. The pair have joked about the possibility of the man who signed him leaving within days, but even if that does happen, the defender is confident the club will have a plan. He said: 'Yes, we have been joking about it. But he is all right. Brentford is a good club that whatever happens, they will have a plan. There are good people in the back room plan, so there will be a plan. 'If he stays, even better. We can only see what happens.' Whatever happens, 26-year-old Kelleher will be lining up in a Brentford shirt next season and his new club-mate cannot wait to play in front of him. Collins said: 'I am looking forward to it. I get on really well with him here. 'He shows his qualities as a keeper as well, but it will be even better when we can train together every day and build our relationship a bit more, on and off the field, to help Brentford and Ireland as well. 'I am buzzing for him. It's a great move for him and he deserves to be a number one at a club.' In the meantime, the pair will hope to help extend Ireland's unbeaten run to four games since they were beaten 5-0 by England in the Nations League at Wembley in November when they run out at the Stade de Luxembourg. That was a painful evening for Collins and his team-mates, but one he believes served a purpose. He said: 'The hurt in the dressing room after, it was not a nice place. For me, it created a new hunger. It did definitely reset me to want to do better and improve for the next camp. 'It might work in a good way for us.'


North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Craig Bellamy: Wales World Cup qualification hopes alive despite loss to Belgium
Wales lost a seven-goal thriller in Brussels after fighting back from a 3-0 deficit, only for Kevin De Bruyne to deliver a gut punch two minutes from time. It was Bellamy's first defeat in 10 games in charge and Wales were also knocked off top spot in Group J by North Macedonia, 1-0 winners in Kazakhstan. Until the end. Yma o Hyd ♥️ — Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) June 9, 2025 Belgium are three points behind Wales with two games in hand, and will visit Cardiff in October for the return fixture. The group winners will qualify automatically for next summer's finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States, with Wales almost certainly guaranteed a play-off place through their Nations League results. Wales manager Bellamy said: 'I think I read something from the Belgium media – 'an easy way to the USA'? 'There's a lot of life in this group and today I saw a lot of life in this team. We aren't going anywhere. 'I will have a couple of weeks now of recharging but I'm beyond proud and really excited about the future.' Belgium led 3-0 inside 27 minutes through Romelu Lukaku – a controversial penalty awarded after De Bruyne's shot hit the hand of Brennan Johnson – Youri Tielemans and Jeremy Doku. Harry Wilson gave Wales hope from the penalty spot ahead of the break before Sorba Thomas, with his first Wales goal, and Johnson put the visitors back on level terms. Bellamy said: 'I don't like losing. I understand the game but how you lose is more important. 'Who are you as a person? Who is your team? I see that and I'm beyond proud. We're a good team. 'To come to a top-eight team and can we play the way we want to play? I think the Belgium players saw it as well. I won't tell you what we discussed.' Bellamy had promised to go on the attack in Brussels before the game and not sit back and defend against opponents ranked eighth in the world. He said: 'I understand results, I really do. But football means more to me than that. It always has done. 'I'd rather try something great and fail than do nothing and succeed. I've always been that way. 'I might not be great at anything but I'll try to be. It means more. I liked that. 'I said I wasn't coming to sit back, it's not in my nature, don't do it … it's not our culture, it's not who we are. 'So for me it was, 'can we come to a top-eight team in the world then and come and play?'.'