Latest news with #ConnorRoberts
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wales have new mindset under Bellamy
World Cup qualifier: Belgium v Wales Venue: King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels Date: Monday, 9 June Kick off: 19:45 BST Coverage: Live on BBC One, S4C, iPlayer, BBC Radio Wales and Radio Cymru, the BBC Sport website and app, plus live text commentary. Advertisement Wales have a new mentality under Craig Bellamy, according to a player who watched him help do the same at club level. Connor Roberts was part of the Burnley team that stormed the Championship as Bellamy assisted manager Vincent Kompany on their way to the title. Now the full-back is part of a Wales side enjoying an unbeaten start to Bellamy's first senior role as manager and its renewed ambition to reach the 2026 World Cup. Bellamy's team saw off group minnows Liechtenstein 3-0 in Cardiff on Friday, teeing up Monday's trip to qualification favourites Belgium. The 45-year-old has already stated Wales will take the game to the top seeds, while midfielder David Brooks says the team will be heading to Brussels to go for the win. Advertisement Asked whether it showed a mindset shift from past Wales sides, 62-cap Roberts said: "Yes is the straightforward answer. "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. "I'm not saying we'll win every single game but one thing is for sure, we will give everything and try and do the right things and try and win every game we play." Wales eased to a win over Liechtenstein with goals from Joe Rodon, Kieffer Moore and Harry Wilson, and Roberts added: "Of course it's big switch to go from playing Liechtenstein to Belgium, but we have to keep being ourselves and not change, keep the good habits that we've been learning and trying to integrate over the last nine months, do what we need to do to win the game. Advertisement "And why can't we go [to Belgium] and dominate and put in a really good performance? That is the aim, that is the plan and hopefully we can achieve that." Bellamy has publicly spoken about not wanting to be seen as underdogs, a message clearly heard by players as they gear up for a key game in the campaign. Wales lead Group J after two wins and a draw from their opening three games. And their comfortable night in Cardiff against Liechtenstein was made even more enjoyable with news of Belgium conceding late to draw in North Macedonia in their opening fixture. It saw Belgium manager Rudi Garcia tell reporters his side "have to win" against Wales. Advertisement But Bournemouth's Brooks says Wales haven't changed their thoughts because of the result in Skopje. "We fancied ourselves from minute one," Brooks said. "It's not as though we felt Belgium needed to slip up for us to have a chance, we were going to go there and try and win anyway. "We both dropped points [in North Macedonia] but they're not a pushover team. We will be going to Belgium to try and get three points."
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
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. Advertisement 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. Hapus iawn 😁 — Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) June 6, 2025 'If you win games and put in good performances you will enjoy it.' 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. Advertisement 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. 'Of course it's a big switch (from playing against Liechtenstein) but we have to keep being ourselves and not change. Advertisement '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.'
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Wales have new mindset under Bellamy
World Cup qualifier: Belgium v WalesVenue: King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels Date: Monday, 9 June Kick off: 19:45 BSTCoverage: Live on BBC One, S4C, iPlayer, BBC Radio Wales and Radio Cymru, the BBC Sport website and app, plus live text commentary. Wales have a new mentality under Craig Bellamy, according to a player who watched him help do the same at club Roberts was part of the Burnley team that stormed the Championship as Bellamy assisted manager Vincent Kompany on their way to the the full-back is part of a Wales side enjoying an unbeaten start to Bellamy's first senior role as manager and its renewed ambition to reach the 2026 World team saw off group minnows Liechtenstein 3-0 in Cardiff on Friday, teeing up Monday's trip to qualification favourites 45-year-old has already stated Wales will take the game to the top seeds, while midfielder David Brooks says the team will be heading to Brussels to go for the whether it showed a mindset shift from past Wales sides, 62-cap Roberts said: "Yes is the straightforward answer."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."I'm not saying we'll win every single game but one thing is for sure, we will give everything and try and do the right things and try and win every game we play." Wales eased to a win over Liechtenstein with goals from Joe Rodon, Kieffer Moore and Harry Wilson, and Roberts added: "Of course it's big switch to go from playing Liechtenstein to Belgium, but we have to keep being ourselves and not change, keep the good habits that we've been learning and trying to integrate over the last nine months, do what we need to do to win the game."And why can't we go [to Belgium] and dominate and put in a really good performance? That is the aim, that is the plan and hopefully we can achieve that." Bellamy has publicly spoken about not wanting to be seen as underdogs, a message clearly heard by players as they gear up for a key game in the lead Group J after two wins and a draw from their opening three their comfortable night in Cardiff against Liechtenstein was made even more enjoyable with news of Belgium conceding late to draw in North Macedonia in their opening saw Belgium manager Rudi Garcia tell reporters his side "have to win" against Bournemouth's Brooks says Wales haven't changed their thoughts because of the result in Skopje."We fancied ourselves from minute one," Brooks said. "It's not as though we felt Belgium needed to slip up for us to have a chance, we were going to go there and try and win anyway."We both dropped points [in North Macedonia] but they're not a pushover team. We will be going to Belgium to try and get three points."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
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.'
The Independent
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
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. 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. 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. 'I'm not saying we'll win every single game but one thing is for sure, we are one as a team. '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.' 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. 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. '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.'
