CARDIFF — Wales came from behind to beat 10-man Norway 2-1 at the Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday to claim a first Nations League A victory at the ninth attempt and end a six-game winless run stretching back to March's World Cup play-off semi-final defeat by Bosnia-Herzegovina. The result, described as the finest of Craig Bellamy's reign, was also Wales' first under the head coach against a nation ranked higher in the world and their first ever in the competition's top tier.
Asked whether the success had lifted a weight off his shoulders, Bellamy said he had "felt the stick" since the Bosnia loss and endured a "really difficult" spell. "The summer wasn't easy, then these games weren't easy," he said. "But I've seen it; I've drawn on experience because I've seen managers before me get it. I've been part of that, and I've seen the abuse. I've seen the abuse the previous manager got just before me, and I have to be honest, it's been a really difficult couple of months."
The former Wales striker, appointed national boss in July 2024, faced additional criticism from some fans after holding talks over a potential move to Burnley in June. Bellamy said the negativity had also affected his family and called for greater kindness in the discourse around the team. "It's not me but I have kids and a wife; it's for them - they see it," he said. "I've lived in this environment and I had it as a player, but I think there's ways we can speak to people, and just because it's the game we love, it doesn't give us the right to think we can say whatever we want. We're such a small country, I'm like... why can't we have each other's backs? Why don't we look after each other more?"
Bellamy said he did not "want to spoil" the upbeat mood after the morale-boosting win. "I'm really happy with it, but I'm happy for the country, you understand?" he added. "It's like, I give everything for my country. Everything. I turned down big money to keep doing this. I love doing this." He stressed he was not placing himself above scrutiny, adding: "I'm not saying everyone's above criticism, far from it. But I think it's too easy, and we're too quick."