Wales Secures Narrow Victory Against Kazakhstan in World Cup Qualifier
International Friendly: Wales vs. Canada
Venue: Swansea.com Stadium Date: Tuesday, 9 September Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Coverage: Live on iPlayer, BBC One, BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and Sounds, the BBC Sport website and app, along with live text commentary.
In the lead-up to Wales' challenging World Cup qualifier in Kazakhstan, Craig Bellamy emphasized the mantra of "no excuses." This 7,000-mile round trip marked the longest journey the men’s team has undertaken for a qualifying match. After only one training session prior to their departure, the injury-stricken squad faced an artificial pitch upon arrival in Astana.
Following their hard-fought 1-0 victory at Astana Arena, Bellamy acknowledged the difficulties they encountered. "Preparation for this was crazy. I’m not going to tell you before it," he remarked with a knowing smile. "Some players arrived on Sunday, with transfer deadline day on Monday, and a few of our boys were involved. Then we traveled on Tuesday and trained on Wednesday – just one session. Four hours’ time difference, artificial pitch. It’s all very new. Some players are playing, some are not. It adds to the excitement, but I felt a bit more uncertain than I would usually like to be."
Bellamy prefers to have control, both over the circumstances and the match itself. Wales demonstrated dominance in the first half, but allowed their opponents, ranked 114th in the world, to regain momentum in the second half, nearly suffering a significant upset.
This performance was not one to remember, and Bellamy was candid about it. However, when it comes to qualifying campaigns, coaches often prioritize results over style. "To come away with a win, I’m very particular about performances, but I don’t care," he stated. "I can travel back, adjust to the time zone, and prepare for the next game. There are aspects of the performance I’d like to improve. I’m quite greedy in that regard, but I also recognize the reality of the situation."
By "reality," Bellamy referenced the various challenges his team faced in securing a win in Astana. Some obstacles turned into opportunities, particularly the injuries that enabled 19-year-old center-back Dylan Lawlor to make his debut as a starter. The Cardiff City player took full advantage of the opportunity, showcasing composure, aerial strength, and sound positioning. Bellamy praised Lawlor's "brilliant" performance, which stood out in an otherwise inconsistent team effort and bolstered the coach's defensive options for the remainder of the campaign.
Wales will now take a break from Group J matchdays to play friendly matches against Canada and England before facing Belgium at Cardiff City Stadium on 13 October. To maintain a realistic chance of topping the group, Wales must win all three of their remaining matches and hope Belgium drops points more than once, not solely in Cardiff.
Following their chaotic 4-3 defeat in Brussels in June, Bellamy expressed optimism, stating, "there’s a lot of life in this group," a belief he continues to uphold. However, his comments before and after the Kazakhstan match suggest that his public statements may not always reflect his true sentiments.
There remains an element of uncertainty surrounding this group, although Belgium is still favored to finish at the top. If that occurs and Wales secures second place, they will enter the playoffs in March, mirroring the path they took to qualify for the 2022 World Cup – their first finals appearance in 64 years. Even in the worst-case scenario of failing to finish in the top two, Wales is likely to secure a playoff spot due to their Nations League performance.
There are several potential pathways leading to the 2026 World Cup, and Bellamy hopes the journey will not be as lengthy and challenging as the one that took him and his team to Kazakhstan.