Connor Roberts: Wales will go toe-to-toe with any team under Craig Bellamy
Connor Roberts says Wales are heading into their crunch World Cup qualifier against Belgium driven on by a change of mindset under Craig Bellamy.
Wales boss Bellamy has overseen a dramatic improvement in fortunes since succeeding Rob Page, with the Dragons currently sitting top of their qualifying group for next summer's tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Advertisement
Monday's World Cup qualifier against Belgium in Brussels marks the 12-month anniversary of their last defeat – a 4-0 beating in Slovakia that marked the end of the Page era.
Connor Roberts, left, says Wales' mindset has radically changed under Craig Bellamy (Nigel French/PA)
Bellamy has embarked on a nine-game unbeaten run since taking charge – by far the best start of any Wales manager – and has promised to go on the attack against group favourites Belgium at the King Baudouin Stadium.
'Yes. Straightforward answer,' Roberts said when asked if Wales were profiting from a mindset change under Bellamy.
'The manager has come in – and obviously I know him from his time at Burnley – and we will go toe-to-toe with any team.
Advertisement
'I'm not saying we'll win every single game but one thing is for sure, we are one as a team.
Bellamy extended his unbeaten start as Wales manager to nine games on Friday (Adam Davy/PA)
'As the Wales national team, we will give everything, and do the right things to try and win every game we play.'
Former Wales captain Bellamy has spoken at length about the demanding playing style he has introduced since his appointment last July.
It is a high-pressing and high-energy possession game with the aim to dominate possession and win the ball back as soon as it is lost.
Roberts said: 'It's massively enjoyable for everyone. None more so than me having been here quite a while, and trying to play the way I know how to after being at Burnley.
'If you win games and put in good performances you will enjoy it.'
Advertisement
Wales moved clear at the top of Group J after beating Liechtenstein 3-0 in Cardiff on Friday.
Goals from Joe Rodon, Harry Wilson and Kieffer Moore completed a routine victory after Liechtenstein, ranked 205th out of the 210 teams in world football, had held out for 39 minutes.
Wales hold a two-point lead from North Macedonia after taking seven points from their opening three World Cup qualifiers.
Joe Rodon, centre, scored his first Wales goal against Liechtenstein (Nigel French/PA)
Belgium began their campaign on Friday with a 1-1 draw in North Macedonia after conceding a late equaliser.
Roberts said: 'We just have to concentrate on ourselves, go into every game to try and win, and that will be exactly the same against Belgium.
Advertisement
'Of course it's a big switch (from playing against Liechtenstein) but we have to keep being ourselves and not change.
'Why can't we go there and dominate and put in a really good performance? That is the aim, that is the plan, and hopefully we can achieve that.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
24 minutes ago
- CBS News
Sovereignty wins the 157th running of the Belmont Stakes
Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty galloped to victory in muddy conditions at the 157th Belmont Stakes in Saratoga Springs, New York, on Saturday in the third leg of the Triple Crown. Sovereignty, who entered the race with 2-to-1 odds, defeated a field of seven challengers. Journalism finished in second place. The race marked a kind of replay of the Derby, in which Sovereignty finished in first and Journalism was the runner-up. Journalism had entered as the heavy favorite after winning the Preakness. Derby third-place finisher Baeza was also in the field of eight. Journalism was the only horse who ran in all three legs of the Triple Crown this year. Bob Baffert-trained Rodriguez was in the Belmont after being scratched from the Derby because of a minor foot bruise that also kept the colt out of the Preakness. The Belmont took place for a second consecutive time at the historic Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York. The New York Racing Association temporarily relocated it there while Belmont Park on Long Island undergoes nearly half-a-billion dollars in renovations. This is a developing story and will be updated.
Associated Press
30 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Coastal Carolina sweeps Auburn to reach College World Series for 2nd time
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Jacob Morrison and Hayden Johnson combined to scatter eight hits and Coastal Carolina defeated Auburn 4-1 on Saturday to sweep the Auburn Super Regional and reach the College World Series for the second time. The Chanticleers will try to duplicate the national championship they won in 2016. Morrison allowed one run on six hits with six strikeouts in six innings. Johnson (5-0) came on in the seventh and pitched three scoreless innings with two hits and five strikeouts. Coastal Carolina's three-run seventh inning featured an RBI single by Walker Mitchell and a series of Auburn miscues led to the other two runs. With the scored tied 1-1 after Mitchell's single, he moved up a base on a single by Blagen Pado and scored from second on a throwing error by the first baseman on a ball hit by Ty Dooley. A walk by Ty Barrango loaded the bases and Coastal's third run scored when Wells Sykes was hit by a pitch. Mitchell drove in the final run with a single in the eighth inning. Cade Fisher (1-3) was on the mound in the sloppy seventh inning and allowed three runs, one earned, in 2 2/3 innings. Caden Bodine's 10th-inning home run early Saturday morning gave the Chanticleers a 7-6 victory in the first game. The Tigers played in the super regional round for the fifth time. They advanced to the College World Series in two of their previous four appearances. ___ AP college sports:
CBS News
30 minutes ago
- CBS News
Elko hits 2-run HR, Houser pitches 6 strong innings as White Sox beat Royals 4-1
Tim Elko hit a two-run homer, Adrian Houser pitched six strong innings and the Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 4-1 on Saturday. Chase Meidroth also went deep for the White Sox, who have won three straight for the second time this season. Houser (2-1) gave up a run and six hits while striking out six and walking one. It was the 32-year-old right-hander's fourth quality start since signing with the White Sox on May 20. Cam Booser and Steven Wilson each gave up a hit in a scoreless inning, and Dan Altavilla got the last three outs for his second career save — first since 2020 while pitching for Seattle. Michael Wacha (3-5) allowed three runs and six hits in six innings. He walked one and struck out five. Royals first baseman Vinny Pasquantino was 3 for 3, including his 10th homer in the second inning for a 1-0 lead. Elko's homer in the bottom of the second gave the White Sox a 2-1 lead. Meidroth pushed the advantage to two runs with his shot in the third, and Edgar Quero capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the eighth. With runners on the corners and two outs in the eighth, Wilson struck out veteran catcher Salvador Pérez swinging to end the inning. Pérez struck out four times in four at-bats. Other than Pasquantino, the rest of the Royals' lineup went 5 for 30 with nine strikeouts. Kansas City RHP Michael Lorenzen (3-6, 5.12 ERA) will start the series finale. The White Sox have not announced a starter.
