The main talking points as Wales prepare to face Belgium in World Cup qualifying
Craig Bellamy extended his unbeaten start as manager to nine games with Friday's 3-0 victory over Liechtenstein as Wales went top of the group.
Here, the PA news agency looks at the main talking points surrounding the Brussels clash at the King Baudouin Stadium.
Wales boss Bellamy wasted no time in outlining his Brussels battle plan after beating Liechtenstein made it seven points from nine in World Cup qualifying.
'We go there and I'm not camping,' Bellamy said. 'I'm not sitting back. It's not in my make-up. I can't do it.'
These were bold words from Bellamy, who knows Belgium present the acid test of his Wales reign.
Harry Wilson was very much a boy when making his Wales debut in Belgium 12 years ago.
At the age of 16 years and 207 days he became Wales' youngest-ever player – a record he still holds to this day.
A dozen years on and Wilson is now Wales' main man, his second-half header against Liechtenstein his fifth goal in seven games since Bellamy took charge.
The only sour note of the Liechtenstein win was the early loss of Neco Williams to injury.
The Nottingham Forest full-back, one of the few Premier League regulars in the Wales squad, has been a stand-out player under Bellamy and will be a real miss in Brussels.
Jay Dasilva replaced Williams on Friday and set up Wilson's goal with a fine cross, but Ben Davies could revert to left-back in Brussels with Chris Mepham partnering Joe Rodon at the heart of the defence.
Bellamy coached Jeremy Doku during his time as Anderlecht Under-21 coach and admits the Manchester City winger was 'difficult' to work with.
But Bellamy said Doku's drive was 'insane' and that he helped him become a better coach.
Doku has reached the Premier League via Rennes and could now return to haunt Bellamy on the international stage.
The FIFA world rankings would have it that Belgium are the eighth best team in the world.
But Belgium, who once topped the rankings, have only one win in eight games and began their World Cup campaign with a disappointing 1-1 draw in North Macedonia on Friday.
Former Lyon boss Rudi Garcia was perhaps a curious choice to take over as head coach in January, and only a few ageing members of the so-called 'Golden Generation' such as Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku remain.
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The best year of my life – Craig Bellamy relishing unbeaten start as Wales boss
Bellamy remains undefeated after nine games – five wins and four draws – and the Welsh record of 10 matches unbeaten, set under Mark Hughes between 2001 and 2003, will be equalled by avoiding defeat in Brussels. The Group J qualifier at the King Baudouin Stadium will be the final fixture of Bellamy's first 12 months in the job after his appointment last summer. 'It would be a huge push (to win for qualification). But whatever it will be, it rolls on if we get beat,' said Bellamy. 'But it's going to happen. Do I live in fear of it? Not at all. I don't live that way. 'I've had so many setbacks in my life, it's OK. I'm still here. And I've actually just had the best year of my life. This has been the best. 'How did I get that at 45? It's what I've been waiting for but, at the same time, it's like I don't know what's around the corner. I don't. 'But I know what I'm going to do. Enjoy everything. The good, the bad, whatever it is. 'Maybe I look too deep into stuff or maybe not. I try not to. But we're here for a tiny, short time.' Group leaders Wales are six points clear of Belgium after beating Liechtenstein 3-0 on Friday. The Dragons have taken seven points from their first three qualifiers, while Belgium began their campaign with a 1-1 draw in North Macedonia on Friday. That six-point gap has put early pressure on Belgium, who have won only one of their last eight games and are under new management in former Napoli and Lyon boss Rudi Garcia. Bellamy, however, has played down what protecting Wales' unbeaten record against Belgium – eighth on the FIFA world rankings – would mean to him. Gweithio'n galed am Gwlad Belg 💪 — Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) June 8, 2025 'It's always nice, but I don't live waking up every morning thinking like, 'oh, please, don't lose this',' said Bellamy. 'No. Play well. We've done everything we could. That's the honest truth. 'This week's been top. And it's been top since I've just loved every moment because they train, they work, they show up, and to have that is amazing. 'I don't to have say, 'that wasn't good enough, no, we need to be sharper'. Never once I had to. So they give you energy.' Wales are again without Leeds winger Daniel James, who has failed to recover from illness after missing the Liechtenstein win. Nottingham Forest full-back Neco Williams also misses out after rolling his ankle against Liechtenstein. Bellamy said: 'Dan just couldn't recover from his illness. It knocked him back a bit. It's a shame but it's OK. 'We'd love Neco, we'd have loved everyone, but we don't have them.' 'I've never once moaned about it before and I'm not going to start now. We have good enough players. 'Of course we'd like them but they're not going to be here. Let's make sure they're in a good position for when they come back.' Cardiff defender Dylan Lawlor has been called in as cover for Williams.
Glasgow Times
7 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
The best year of my life – Craig Bellamy relishing unbeaten start as Wales boss
Bellamy remains undefeated after nine games – five wins and four draws – and the Welsh record of 10 matches unbeaten, set under Mark Hughes between 2001 and 2003, will be equalled by avoiding defeat in Brussels. The Group J qualifier at the King Baudouin Stadium will be the final fixture of Bellamy's first 12 months in the job after his appointment last summer. Craig Bellamy pictured at a Wales training session ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Belgium (David Davies/PA) 'It would be a huge push (to win for qualification). But whatever it will be, it rolls on if we get beat,' said Bellamy. 'But it's going to happen. Do I live in fear of it? Not at all. I don't live that way. 'I've had so many setbacks in my life, it's OK. I'm still here. And I've actually just had the best year of my life. This has been the best. 'How did I get that at 45? It's what I've been waiting for but, at the same time, it's like I don't know what's around the corner. I don't. 'But I know what I'm going to do. Enjoy everything. The good, the bad, whatever it is. 'Maybe I look too deep into stuff or maybe not. I try not to. But we're here for a tiny, short time.' Group leaders Wales are six points clear of Belgium after beating Liechtenstein 3-0 on Friday. The Dragons have taken seven points from their first three qualifiers, while Belgium began their campaign with a 1-1 draw in North Macedonia on Friday. That six-point gap has put early pressure on Belgium, who have won only one of their last eight games and are under new management in former Napoli and Lyon boss Rudi Garcia. Bellamy, however, has played down what protecting Wales' unbeaten record against Belgium – eighth on the FIFA world rankings – would mean to him. Gweithio'n galed am Gwlad Belg 💪 — Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) June 8, 2025 'It's always nice, but I don't live waking up every morning thinking like, 'oh, please, don't lose this',' said Bellamy. 'No. Play well. We've done everything we could. That's the honest truth. 'This week's been top. And it's been top since I've just loved every moment because they train, they work, they show up, and to have that is amazing. 'I don't to have say, 'that wasn't good enough, no, we need to be sharper'. Never once I had to. So they give you energy.' Wales are again without Leeds winger Daniel James, who has failed to recover from illness after missing the Liechtenstein win. Daniel James again misses out for Wales in Belgium through illness (David Davies/PA) Nottingham Forest full-back Neco Williams also misses out after rolling his ankle against Liechtenstein. Bellamy said: 'Dan just couldn't recover from his illness. It knocked him back a bit. It's a shame but it's OK. 'We'd love Neco, we'd have loved everyone, but we don't have them.' 'I've never once moaned about it before and I'm not going to start now. We have good enough players. 'Of course we'd like them but they're not going to be here. Let's make sure they're in a good position for when they come back.' Cardiff defender Dylan Lawlor has been called in as cover for Williams.
Daily Mail
18 minutes ago
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Romelu Lukaku and Harry Wilson to both score now BOOSTED to 12/1 as Belgium face Wales in World Cup qualifier
Romelu Lukaku and Harry Wilson to both score in Monday's World Cup qualifying clash is now boosted to 12/1, as the two rival nations prepare to face off once again. One of Welsh football's greatest ever nights came in 2016 against Monday evening's opponents, when Chris Coleman's Dragons beat Roberto Martinez's golden generation Belgian side 3-1 at the European Championship. While few of those Welsh heroes remain in the national team today, there are a few living Belgian legends set to take on Craig Bellamy and Co in Brussels. One of those, Lukaku, is the subject of one of four Price Boosts on offer from Sky Bet. It requires him and Fulham star Wilson to score in the game, and is boosted to 12/1 from 9/1. Wilson scored in his last match for Wales while Lukaku scored a brace last time he played at home for Belgium. Another veteran Belgium star Kevin De Bruyne is boosted from 2/1 to 3/1 to have two or more shots on target. De Bruyne has had three shots on target across his last three matches for Belgium. Meanwhile, Ethan Ampadu to commit two or more fouls is now evens, and both teams to have two or more shots on target in each half is boosted to 7/1. Sky Bet Price Boosts for Belgium vs Wales: Ethan Ampadu 2+ fouls committed - WAS 5/6 NOW EVENS Kevin De Bruyne 2+ shots on target - WAS 2/1 NOW 3/1 2+ shots on target each team in each half - WAS 9/2 NOW 7/1 Romelu Lukaku and Harry Wilson both to score - WAS 9/1 NOW 12/1
