Wales Deliver a Stunning Football Masterclass
Chasing perfection can often overwhelm athletes and managers, but Craig Bellamy has always embraced that pursuit. While he admits perfection may not truly exist, the Wales boss believes his team came remarkably close as they demolished North Macedonia 7-1 in Cardiff.
The victory not only secured second place in their World Cup qualifying group, but also guaranteed home advantage for their March play-off semi-final. Yet it was the nature of the performance that left Bellamy in awe.
North Macedonia had one of the strongest defensive records in the group, conceding only three goals in seven matches. But Wales tore that statistic apart, scoring three times in just 19 first-half minutes, leaving their visitors stunned and eventually humiliated.
“That was as close to the perfect performance as I’ve seen,” Bellamy said proudly.
He praised his team’s fluid, high-tempo football, explaining how Wales operated without a traditional striker and instead overloaded the pitch with three number 10s. Their movement, precision and connection between wide players created wave after wave of attacks.
“We were just so clean with the ball,” Bellamy added. “That allows you to create good chances — and today we took them.”
Bellamy’s Vision Comes to Life
This was expected to be a tense contest, with North Macedonia needing just a draw and having kept a flawless defensive record away from home. Instead, Wales transformed the match into a festival of attacking football, backed by a roaring Cardiff City Stadium.
The display was the clearest representation yet of the aggressive, fast-paced style Bellamy has instilled since taking charge last year. The team pressed relentlessly off the ball and played with craft and confidence when in possession.
Bellamy acknowledged the quality of North Macedonia but hinted he foresaw their downfall.
“I felt there was a team ready to hurt them — and I thought it could be us,” he said.
The emphatic win also serves as a warning to Wales’ potential play-off rivals. They will sit in pot two, hosting one of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo or Republic of Ireland in the semi-final.
With Wales having won three of their previous four home play-offs, the hope is to continue this strong record next March — which could be season-defining for Bellamy’s tenure.
Reflecting on the night, he added: “When we play at home, it’s very important. Tonight was as close to perfect as I could have asked for. But the teams in pot three will be just as dangerous. For now, I’ll just enjoy this — a really top performance.”
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