Bellamy aims high after Wales' Nations League draw

Craig Bellamy has set Wales the target of cementing their place among Europe’s top 16 nations after the draw for the next UEFA Nations League paired his side with Portugal, Denmark and Norway and confirmed their return to League A.

Speaking after the draw, the Wales head coach said remaining in the top tier is the first step toward becoming a seeded nation in future qualifying campaigns and, ultimately, securing automatic passage to major tournaments.

“I’m very excited and actually quite happy with the draw,” Bellamy said. “How I look at this group is to stay in this group. We’ve dipped between A and B and in the qualifying campaigns we are second. How do we get to be number one so we’re competing for the number one spot?

“If we can stay in League A it will give us a better opportunity of being a number one seeded team that goes into qualifiers, and able to stay at number one and go straight to a tournament and not in the play-offs anymore.”

The fixtures will revive memories of Wales’ memorable Euro 2016 run, ended at the semi-final stage by eventual champions Portugal. Roberto Martínez, now in charge of the Portuguese and a former Swansea City manager, praised the transformation under Bellamy.

“Wales are a national team I know very well and are close to my heart,” Martínez said. “Craig Bellamy has transmitted that feeling of taking risks, playing games eye to eye with any national team.”

Martínez labelled Norway, spearheaded by Erling Haaland, as “European football’s form team” after they cruised through World Cup qualifying with a perfect record. Bellamy, who has recently studied the Scandinavians, sees similarities between them and Denmark but expects a stern test across the board.

“They were all going to be tough, that’s why you’re in League A,” he added. “It’s the top 16 teams in Europe.”

The Nations League campaign begins in September with four matches squeezed into the opening window, presenting an early examination of squad depth. Full focus on the competition must wait, however, until Wales tackle a March World Cup play-off semi-final against Bosnia. Victory would set up a final against either Northern Ireland or Italy for a place at the 2026 finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Asked whether the prospect of leading Wales to a World Cup as a manager—something he never achieved as a player—was a motivating vision, Bellamy kept his eyes fixed on the immediate challenge.

“It’s one game at a time. We’ve just got to beat Bosnia, that’s it. Bosnia is the most important, it’s a real tough game, and all my focus and energy is on that moment. The rest will take care of itself.”

Wales fans will hope that by the time the Nations League kicks off, Bellamy’s side will be preparing for a summer in North America before testing themselves against the continent’s heavyweights in the autumn.