Bellamy says Wales 'stick' hurt as Norway win lifts mood

What the report says

Wales head coach Craig Bellamy said the criticism he has faced during his side’s winless spell has made the past few months “really difficult,” after Wales beat Norway 2-1 at Cardiff City Stadium to end a six-game run without victory. BBC Sport reported that the result was Wales’ best under Bellamy and their first win in the top tier of the Nations League, coming after the team had fallen behind before recovering against 10-man Norway.

Bellamy, appointed in July 2024, said he had “felt the stick” since Wales’ defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina in the World Cup play-off semi-final in March. He also linked some of the negativity to family life, saying public criticism can spill beyond the pitch. According to the BBC, he had been criticised by some fans earlier in the year amid talk of a possible move to Burnley, though he remained in charge of Wales.

The former Wales striker said he did not want to take away from the positive result, which he described as important for the country as well as for the squad. The win lifted morale after a difficult stretch and gave Wales a much-needed boost heading into their next Nations League match against Denmark in Cardiff on Sunday.