Craig Bellamy desires an ‘identification’ for his group, however the final goal is identical – to qualify for the main tournaments and be on the World Cup and Euros celebration, writes Geraint Hughes.
So the long-term plan of attending to the World Cup in 2026 after which additionally a ‘residence’ Euros in 2028 is not any totally different to the lifelike aspirations of earlier Wales managers.
Rob Web page, Ryan Giggs and Chris Coleman all performed their half in Wales qualifying for Euro 2016 and 2020, and the 2022 World Cup. With a gaggle of gifted gamers, that sure, did embody Gareth Bale, and a construction and funding behind the scenes from the FAW, these goals had been achieved.
It is a motive why Wales falling quick to qualify for this summer time’s Euros in Germany harm a lot. Wales banked on qualifying and regardless of being a penalty kick from a June soiree with France and the Netherlands, they did not make it.
It felt uncommon not unfortunate. Finally, it additionally value Rob Web page his job as the lads’s senior group supervisor.
So Craig Bellamy’s final long-term ambition and the instruction from the FAW hierarchy hasn’t altered – Wales not solely wish to be at World Cups and Euros, they anticipate to.
Craig Bellamy feels totally different although. Do not misunderstand, all managers, coaches usually are not equivalent, removed from it, however Bellamy actually does really feel like one thing very, very totally different. Overlook any preconceived concepts of him as a participant, that is Bellamy the supervisor, the coach.
Wales’ journey to any future World Cup or Euros beneath him goes to have a singular really feel on and off the pitch and it begins at residence to Turkey in Cardiff on Friday night time within the Nations League.
Whereas the goal to qualify for main tournaments isn’t a brand new goal, it is the way in which Bellamy and ‘his’ Wales group go about it that does represent a brand new period. There’s been speak of depth about the way in which Wales wish to play, and within the quick interval I have been capable of observe and absorb all the things Bellamy talks about, it is truthful to say that could be a very seen aspect of how Bellamy desires to educate and put together his gamers.
In footballing phrases, Bellamy desires his gamers to have the physique language which tells the passionate Welsh followers that they’re sweating blood and tears for his or her nation. That should not be a tough ask as this group of gamers have made it clear how a lot they love taking part in for his or her nation.
So for Bellamy it is a good match. He can even demand extra, do not anticipate any Wales participant to be standing nonetheless waving fingers or arms round, that simply isn’t going to be acceptable for Bellamy. He desires them targeted on the place the ball is, the place they should be and the place the subsequent move may come from the place the subsequent defensive section may come up from.
Anticipate a group that presses excessive up the pitch that desires to win the ball again as shortly as is humanly potential, and likewise anticipate a group that performs at tempo – whether or not that be on the counter-attack, or whether or not which means getting the ball ahead shortly. It is about attacking the opposition at each alternative and never losing these alternatives.
It is also been apparent that off the sector issues are totally different beneath Bellamy in his coaching periods. Bellamy actively turns into concerned whether or not it is a fast faucet on the shoulder of a participant to have a 10-second chat with them or whether or not he is getting concerned in a warm-up drill, he is very a lot the hands-on coach.
And the gamers have observed this as properly and are fairly completely satisfied speaking about how the group conferences are longer than they’ve been beforehand and that there’s a lot of element to tackle board, however there’s an understanding why. Bellamy desires to play in a unique model and that takes the involvement and the engagement of the gamers, so there’s going to be an terrible lot of element that’s being taught by Bellamy to his new group.
It definitely seems from the primary week that the gamers and Bellamy are having fun with this new relationship, this begin to a brand new period for Wales.