Craig Bellamy secured his first Nations League A victory as Wales edged Norway 2-0 in Cardiff, ending a seven-game winless streak and shutting down Erling Haaland in the process. Goals from Neco Williams and Dan James helped Wales claim their first-ever win in this tier of the Nations League and only their second competitive victory over a higher-ranked side since the Euro 2016 semi-finals.
Bellamy, who took over from Rob Page in July 2024, has now won nine of his 23 games in charge. The win came after a difficult summer for the head coach, which included disappointment at missing out on the World Cup and a brief link to Burnley that unsettled fans. The atmosphere around the team had soured following a heavy defeat in Denmark to start the Nations League campaign, but the performance in Cardiff suggested a change in momentum.
Before kickoff, fans gathered at the Canopi venue near the Principality Stadium, where Wales will host Euro 2028 matches. The mood was cautious, with many supporters reflecting on where Bellamy’s tenure had faltered after an initially promising start. Ryan March, editor of the fanzine Alternative Wales, said, “I think people were down on him after Bosnia, the way the game panned out and seeing mistakes we made on the night we'd made earlier in the campaign. He didn't really come out and say he'd made an error, and then when the Burnley thing happened, perhaps people thought it might be good for a change and we could move on. When it didn't, I expected a reaction – and we haven't had it.”
Social media criticism had been harsh, but in person, fans expressed a desire for Bellamy to improve rather than be replaced. “Are we a better side than we were at the end of his first year in charge? I don't think we are,” March added. “We have less of a style, less of an identity, and we've not been better than the sum of our parts, which the best Welsh sides always tend to be.”
Bellamy himself acknowledged the scrutiny ahead of the game against Norway. “We need to improve; I need to improve,” he said in his pre-match press conference, showing a rare moment of humility.
The victory offered a sense of relief. It was Wales’ first win over a top-20 nation since beating Croatia in Cardiff in October 2023 under Rob Page. The absence of key players like goalkeeper Karl Darlow, centre-back Joe Rodon, and attacking midfielder Harry Wilson had made recent matches tougher, forcing Bellamy to rely on less experienced squad members.
After the match, Bellamy spoke to S4C about the crowd’s reaction to the early goal from Norway’s Oscar Bobb, which had the potential to silence the home support. “If they wanted to turn, that was their chance. But they didn't, they drove players on,” Bellamy said.
The Welsh side kept Haaland quiet throughout, frustrating one of Europe’s most prolific attackers. The tempo and aggression on display suggested Bellamy’s recent “identity meeting” with players had an effect, helping to restore some of the energy and style that had characterised his early tenure.
In the Canton district of Cardiff, fans debated the tactical decisions and the coach’s communication but agreed the win was a step in the right direction. There was no suggestion the coach’s future was in immediate doubt, even if questions remain about whether Bellamy might be tempted by club offers elsewhere.
For now, Wales have ended a difficult run and earned a result that could shift the mood, both in the squad and among supporters. The team’s next Nations League fixtures will test if this victory over a higher-ranked Norway side can be the start of consistent progress under Bellamy.
According to Yahoo Sports.
