Latest news with #MrCalm
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Mr Calm' Bellamy looks to Skopje after opening win
2026 World Cup qualifying: North Macedonia v Wales Venue: National Arena Todor Proeski, Skopje Date: Tuesday, 25 March Kick-off: 19:45 GMT Coverage: Watch on BBC One Wales, iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app, plus S4C via iPlayer. Text commentary and highlights on BBC Sport website & app. Listen live on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra Wales captain Ben Davies described head coach Craig Bellamy as "Mr Calm" after his side made hard work of their opening World Cup qualifier to beat Kazakhstan. Wales were well below their best but won 3-1 against a stubborn Kazakhstan side, who are ranked 110th in the world, in Cardiff on Saturday. Bellamy had a reputation for being a fiery character during a successful but often controversial playing career at clubs such as Liverpool, Newcastle United and Manchester City. Since taking charge of Wales last year, however, the former Wales captain has shown himself to be more mature and considered. "They made it really difficult for us, they were compact. You could see in the first half we forced a lot of balls when we didn't really need to," Davies, who scored Wales' second goal, told Match of the Day Wales. "In the second half we were much more disciplined and we got the job done, which is the most important thing. The goal [Davies scored] came at such a perfect time for us, the longer it goes on at 1-1 it makes it a bit of a tense game. "We've all been in games like that where you go into it as favourites, you have a lot of expectations to walk all over a team, but you know it's never the case. They're a proud nation that's out on the pitch trying to win a game just like us. "The players were the ones that were the most frustrated at half-time, whereas Bellamy came in Mr Calm, he came in with a plan, was clear in the messaging he gave us and what he expected in the second half, he simply asked for more energy and keep doing what we're doing." Next for Wales is Tuesday's trip to North Macedonia, who started their campaign with a 3-0 win over Group J's bottom seeds Liechtenstein. That was North Macedonia's sixth successive victory and, while Wales may start as slight favourites in Skopje, they will need a vast improvement on their performances against Kazakhstan to make it six points from six. Belgium, who are yet to play, are Group J's top seeds, with Wales second and North Macedonia third seeds, while lowly Kazakhstan and Liechtenstein complete the group. Only the group winners will qualify automatically for the World Cup, with the runners-up entering the play-offs. Wales have already all but guaranteed themselves a play-off place by winning their Nations League group, and could give their hopes of automatic qualification a significant early boost by beating North Macedonia. "They're a good team," said Bellamy. "We have to be at our best. Do I have sleepless nights over it? No. There's more important things. "I like the challenge of being able to prepare a team to go to somewhere like North Macedonia. I would like the opportunity to prepare a team to go to Brazil. I want to improve and I want the players to improve. "I don't look at everything like living with a knife between my teeth. It's the challenge you have to embrace and be excited about. North Macedonia leaves a lot to be excited about."
The Independent
22-03-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Craig Bellamy was ‘Mr Calm' as Wales struggled against Kazakhstan
Ben Davies praised Craig Bellamy for being 'Mr Calm' at half-time as Kazakhstan threatened to derail Wales' World Cup adventure at the very first stop. Wales owed their 3-1 victory in Cardiff to second-half goals from captain Davies and Rabbi Matondo after Daniel James' early effort had been cancelled out by Askhat Tagybergen's penalty. 'The players were the ones that were the most frustrated at half-time, whereas Bellamy came in Mr Calm,' Davies told BBC Wales. 'He came in with a plan, was clear in the messaging he gave us and what he expected in the second half. 'He simply asked for more energy and keep doing what we were doing.' Wales are now unbeaten in seven games since Bellamy took charge last summer. They topped their Nations League group in the autumn, winning promotion to join the top European nations, and now head to North Macedonia on Tuesday with their bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup up and running. Bellamy said: 'We need to be patient with the ball and supporters need to be patient as well. 'I still hear the shouts, 'get it forward, get it there.' I know, but I'm not hitting up 'there' when we have the numbers 'here'. I much prefer our players being on the ball than not. 'For me it's something different to maybe what's been asked of Wales before. 'I'm not here to see this is right and that was wrong. But how I look at the game, it was going to be a test for them.' North Macedonia began their World Cup campaign on Saturday with a 3-0 victory in Liechtenstein. 'They're a good team,' Bellamy said of the upcoming challenge in Skopje. 'We have to be at our best. 'I like the challenge of being able to prepare a team to go to somewhere like North Macedonia. 'You have to embrace that and be excited about it. 'We've done a lot of work on them, so we'll see where they're at. 'It's going to be a difficult game, we'll need a different type of profile, a different type of energy for that game.' Group favourites Belgium, currently involved in the Nations League play-offs, begin World Cup action in June. Wales had to wait until the final minute before victory was sealed by Rabbi Matondo's first international goal. The Cardiff-raised winger, currently on loan at German club Hannover from Rangers, swept home Sorba Thomas' cross to delight his home crowd. Bellamy said: 'I've known Rabbi since he was very young. It's been so good having him in the group. 'He's such a character he's so funny, the players and staff love him, you can't help but love him.'
BBC News
22-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Mr Calm' Bellamy looks to Skopje after opening win
2026 World Cup qualifying: North Macedonia v WalesVenue: National Arena Todor Proeski, Skopje Date: Tuesday, 25 March Kick-off: 19:45 GMTCoverage: Watch on BBC One Wales, iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app, plus S4C via iPlayer. Text commentary and highlights on BBC Sport website & app. Listen live on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra Wales captain Ben Davies described head coach Craig Bellamy as "Mr Calm" after his side made hard work of their opening World Cup qualifier to beat were well below their best but won 3-1 against a stubborn Kazakhstan side, who are ranked 110th in the world, in Cardiff on had a reputation for being a fiery character during a successful but often controversial playing career at clubs such as Liverpool, Newcastle United and Manchester taking charge of Wales last year, however, the former Wales captain has shown himself to be more mature and considered."They made it really difficult for us, they were compact. You could see in the first half we forced a lot of balls when we didn't really need to," Davies, who scored Wales' second goal, told Match of the Day Wales."In the second half we were much more disciplined and we got the job done, which is the most important thing. The goal [Davies scored] came at such a perfect time for us, the longer it goes on at 1-1 it makes it a bit of a tense game."We've all been in games like that where you go into it as favourites, you have a lot of expectations to walk all over a team, but you know it's never the case. They're a proud nation that's out on the pitch trying to win a game just like us."The players were the ones that were the most frustrated at half-time, whereas Bellamy came in Mr Calm, he came in with a plan, was clear in the messaging he gave us and what he expected in the second half, he simply asked for more energy and keep doing what we're doing." Bellamy 'excited' by North Macedonia challenge Next for Wales is Tuesday's trip to North Macedonia, who started their campaign with a 3-0 win over Group J's bottom seeds was North Macedonia's sixth successive victory and, while Wales may start as slight favourites in Skopje, they will need a vast improvement on their performances against Kazakhstan to make it six points from who are yet to play, are Group J's top seeds, with Wales second and North Macedonia third seeds, while lowly Kazakhstan and Liechtenstein complete the the group winners will qualify automatically for the World Cup, with the runners-up entering the have already all but guaranteed themselves a play-off place by winning their Nations League group, and could give their hopes of automatic qualification a significant early boost by beating North Macedonia."They're a good team," said Bellamy. "We have to be at our best. Do I have sleepless nights over it? No. There's more important things."I like the challenge of being able to prepare a team to go to somewhere like North Macedonia. I would like the opportunity to prepare a team to go to Brazil. I want to improve and I want the players to improve."I don't look at everything like living with a knife between my teeth. It's the challenge you have to embrace and be excited about. North Macedonia leaves a lot to be excited about."
