Craig Bellamy describes difficult spell after Wales end winless run against Norway

Craig Bellamy said criticism during Wales’ winless run had made recent months ‘really difficult’ for him and his family after his team beat Norway 2-1 at Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday, 1 October. The comeback ended a six-match run without a win and gave Wales their first victory in the top tier of the Nations League.

Speaking after the match, Bellamy said he had ‘felt the stick’ since Wales lost to Bosnia-Herzegovina in a World Cup play-off semi-final in March. ‘The summer wasn't easy, then these games weren't easy,’ he told BBC Sport Wales. He said he had watched managers before him face abuse and that the past couple of months had been especially hard.

What Bellamy said about criticism of Wales

Bellamy drew a distinction between criticism of his work and the way people speak about those in the game. ‘I'm not saying everyone's above criticism, far from it,’ he said. ‘But I think it's too easy, and we're too quick.’ He urged people to be kinder to one another, saying the negativity reached beyond him because his wife and children saw it.

The Wales head coach said he was used to scrutiny from his playing career, but worried about its effect on his family. He asked why people in a small country could not look after one another more. His account describes his experience; the cited coverage does not establish how widespread the criticism was.

How Wales came from behind against Norway

Norway went ahead through Oscar Bobb in the 11th minute, but Wales equalised before half-time. Liam Cullen won possession from Sander Berge, Lewis Koumas fed Sorba Thomas and Thomas crossed for Daniel James to score in the 38th minute, according to the Press Association’s match report. That response kept Wales in the contest after another difficult start.

The match turned again almost immediately after the restart. Norway defender Torbjørn Heggem pulled down James just outside the penalty area as the Wales forward ran towards goal and was sent off. Neco Williams scored from the resulting free-kick in the 48th minute, completing the comeback against 10 men.

Wales had opportunities to extend their lead, while Norway’s Erling Haaland headed over and later sent a header straight at goalkeeper Danny Ward. Wales held on for the 2-1 result. The Press Association reported that this was the team’s ninth match in Nations League A across two campaigns, following one draw and seven defeats.

The result also changed the immediate picture around Bellamy’s team. The BBC reported that Wales had gone six matches without a victory since the Bosnia-Herzegovina defeat; the Press Association said their previous win was against North Macedonia in a World Cup qualifier the preceding November. Wales had also lost 2-0 to Denmark on Sunday, a performance Bellamy said had hurt him.

Williams told BBC Sport, in comments carried by Sky Sports, that Wales had analysed what went wrong in their first two Nations League matches and worked on it in training. He said the players could have let their heads drop after conceding early against Norway, but kept going and deserved the win. His free-kick supplied the decisive goal in the response he described.

Wales’ next Nations League fixtures

The Norway victory supplies a clear change since NewsJaws’ earlier report on Wales’ defeat in Denmark: Bellamy’s side have ended their wait for a win and earned their first Nations League A victory. One result does not establish whether their form, or the criticism Bellamy described, will change over the longer term.

UEFA’s fixture list has Wales at home to Denmark on 4 October. Later in the league phase, they are scheduled to play away to Norway on 14 November and at home to Portugal on 17 November. Those matches will offer further evidence of whether the performance against Norway marks a lasting improvement.