Craig Bellamy targets 2026 World Cup qualification after Wales top Nations League group with win over Iceland
Published 19/11/2024 at 23:21 GMT
Craig Bellamy insists there is still more to come from his Wales side, despite securing an immediate return to the top tier of the UEFA Nations League. A win over Iceland means the Dragons topped their group after an unbeaten campaign. Bellamy still has not lost since taking the reins in the summer and has set his sights on the 2026 World Cup in the USA and Mexico.
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Video credit: SNTV
Craig Bellamy has set his sights on taking Wales to a World Cup after guiding his country to UEFA Nations League promotion.
A superb 4-1 victory over Iceland ensured the Dragons, who were helped by Turkey slipping up against Montenegro, finished top of League B Group 4.
It means they will return to the top tier of the competition at the first time of asking.
That caps a remarkable start to life as Wales boss for Bellamy, who has yet to lose since taking the reins in July.
But he remains convinced there is more to come from his players.
"I believe there's more for them," he said. "I believe this game has more. I believe they can play. I believe they can pass the ball.
"We want to go to a World Cup. We've got to get that ticked off.
"If we get to there, we want to then be competing. These players deserved to be there competing, because of their buy-in.
"It doesn't matter what we can do coach wise. They're in. When you have a group like that, their togetherness and who they are as people...
"I think I'm quite a humble person. I do. Some don't know me. You might think you know me; you don't know me. I believe I'm a humble person.
"But do you know, this group make you a humble person.
"We had a member of staff whose close relative passed away. Do you know what they want to do? Out of the players' pool, donate something for the memory of them. That's the type of group I am coaching.
"How could you not be humble? How could you not be proud?"
The Dragons have only reached one World Cup since 1958, qualifiying for Qatar 2022 only to get knocked out in the group stages.
Bellamy enjoyed a 15-year international career, but was one of many talented Wales players who never played at a major tournament.
However, that itch could soon be scratched.
Promotion to the top tier of the Nations League boosts their hopes of making it to the 2026 World Cup, as it could help secure a qualification play-off place.
And a clearly emotional Bellamy added: "For where we want to be and where we want to go, it's huge. It's so important for us. I really wasn't looking at what was going to happen.
"I knew Montenegro would be really tough. When we went there it was so tough. Iceland, I felt they were fortunate to come away with a 2-0 win.
"So you just never know, and if you really look at it, it's been a really tough group.
"Turkey playing in front of 60,000 like they were the other day, then having to travel to Montenegro, playing in front of like 2,000 on a pitch that really isn't great - that's going to be a test. We felt that.
"But we just had to take care of what we had to today, and we were able to do that, and the result worked out well for us, so it's an extra bonus."
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