No let-up for Wales as Bellamy drives standards

BBC News

2 days ago

World Cup qualifier: Wales v LiechtensteinVenue: Cardiff City Stadium Date: Friday, 6 June Kick off: 19:45 BSTCoverage: Live on BBC One Wales, S4C, iPlayer, BBC Radio Wales and Radio Cymru, the BBC Sport website and app, plus live text commentary.
Ben Cabango says Craig Bellamy has "not laid off one bit" as the Wales head coach looks to drive up standards en route to the 2026 World Cup.Wales will bid to extend their unbeaten start to life under Bellamy in World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein at the Cardiff City Stadium on Friday and in Belgium three days later.Having lost their way at the tail-end of Rob Page's spell in charge, Wales have looked revitalised under Bellamy.Defender Cabango believes Wales' players have responded to former striker Bellamy's desire for progress."From his first meeting you could tell how much he wanted to achieve here – big things – and straight away he wanted to drill things into us," Cabango said.
"I feel like he's not laid off that one bit. We're not here for a large amount of time so it's quite intense when we are here."Everyone in the squad has taken that very well, and in that short time you can see the improvements he has made in the squad. Every camp he makes sure we keep developing."
Bellamy claimed Nations League promotion in his first campaign at the helm, with Wales winning three and drawing three of their League B games to top their group ahead of Turkey.They began World Cup qualifying in March with a home victory over Kazakhstan, before David Brooks' late equaliser secured a deserved point in North Macedonia.Cabango has featured in three of Bellamy's eight games, taking him to 12 Wales caps.Having been something of a fringe figure during Page's reign, the Swansea City captain is one a of a number of players given significant game-time by Bellamy, whose team selections have been difficult to predict.
"I feel since he's come in he's given everyone an opportunity," Cabango added."If you're doing well at your club and training well when you come away, I feel like he'll always give you that opportunity."It's a good thing when you come away because you feel more part of the squad and want to be doing well, because you could get that opportunity."Wales will start as overwhelming favourites to beat Liechtenstein, the side ranked 205th in the world by Fifa, but can expect a much sterner test in Brussels next week.Belgium may have lost some of the stars of their golden generation, but are set to include the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Jeremy Doku and Leandro Trossard against Wales.Cabango says Bellamy's "big thing" on the training ground is Wales' work out of possession, which may be key to their prospects at the King Baudouin Stadium."As soon as we lose the ball he wants that reaction," Cabango added."He wants us to dominate games and the way to do that he thinks is off the ball."Every time we lose it that reaction's got to be sharp so we win that ball back. Every time we have the ball the main objective is to score so we're always positive and the intensity is so high."