News Focus
- Craig Bellamy has finished his second year as Wales boss following a 2-1 friendly defeat to Romania
- The former striker has won eight of his 20 matches in charge since taking over in July 2024
- Wales earned promotion to Nations League A but suffered World Cup play-off disappointment
- Bellamy has given senior debuts to seven new players as he rebuilds the squad
- The team faces difficult tests against Portugal, Norway and Denmark later this year
Wales ended Craig Bellamy’s second year in charge with a painful loss in Bucharest. The 2-1 defeat to Romania came in a friendly match and showed the work that still lies ahead for the Red Dragons.
Bellamy started the job in July 2024 after Robert Page left. Since then, the team has played 20 matches. They have won eight, drawn seven and lost five. This gives Bellamy a win rate of 40%.
The start was excellent. Bellamy became the first Wales manager to avoid defeat in his first four games. The team went on a nine-match unbeaten run that included a 1-0 victory over Montenegro. This success helped Wales move up to Nations League A.
However, the mood has changed. Wales lost a World Cup play-off semi-final to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties. This defeat ended their dream of reaching back-to-back World Cups for the first time ever. They have also lost to Belgium twice, plus Canada and England in friendly matches.
Bellamy’s record compares well with some past managers. Chris Coleman, who led Wales to the Euro 2016 semi-finals, won 39% of his games. Ryan Giggs and Gary Speed both had 50% win rates. Robert Page, the only Wales boss to manage at two major tournaments, won 33% of his matches.
Under Bellamy, Wales have scored 34 goals and conceded 24. The team has not beaten any opponent ranked above them in the FIFA rankings.
The manager has focused on building a bigger squad. He has used 37 different players and handed first caps to seven newcomers. These include Karl Darlow, Dylan Lawlor, Ronan Kpakio, Kai Andrews, Joel Colwill, Isaak Davies and Cameron Congreve. The goal is to prepare a strong team for Euro 2028 qualifying.
Defender Connor Roberts returned from injury against Romania. He said the team is moving forward but must improve. “We are progressing and learning,” he stated. “We just have to sharpen up in areas and stay focused for the whole match.”
The road ahead looks hard. Wales will play Portugal, Norway and Denmark in Nations League A later this year. All three teams are ranked higher than Wales.
Bellamy has refused offers from clubs to stay with the national team. He says he remains excited about the project. “We are definitely very different now,” he said after the Romania match. “There is a lot I like, but we need to be better in certain areas. That will allow us to compete with the top teams.”
With two years left on his contract, Bellamy knows the next tests will decide if Wales can return to the top level of international football.