Craig Bellamy says Wales have earned League A place before Norway visit

Craig Bellamy says Wales have earned their place in Nations League A despite losing their first two group games, with Erling Haaland's Norway due in Cardiff on Thursday. Wales have yet to score a point after a 1-0 defeat in Portugal and a 2-0 defeat in Denmark. The home match offers an immediate test of Bellamy's belief that his promoted side belongs at this level.

Speaking ahead of the Norway fixture, Bellamy told BBC Sport Wales that the quality and pace of the opposition were exactly what Wales should expect in the top tier. He described the coming match as another test of “intensity, top players, real speed” and said Wales had “earned the right to be here”. His argument rests on the promotion Wales secured in his first campaign as manager, when they went through their League B group unbeaten.

A difficult return to League A

The opening results have left a clear gap between that promotion and Wales's start to this campaign. UEFA records the defeats in Lisbon on 24 September and Copenhagen on 27 September, while BBC Sport Wales reported that Wales were without a win in six matches in 2026. Across their 2022 and 2026 League A campaigns, Wales had not won any of eight games as of 28 September. Those figures describe the position before the next round of fixtures, rather than the outcome of the campaign.

Bellamy's earlier assessment of the schedule helps explain the immediate challenge. When announcing his squad on 15 September, he told the Football Association of Wales that four matches in a short period would test the group and require flexibility. The FAW said defenders Joe Rodon and Dylan Lawlor were ruled out of the four-match window through injury, while Harry Wilson, Jordan James and Ben Cabango returned to the squad. Bellamy said then that missing a player such as Rodon for four matches, rather than two, was a significant blow.

Why Norway pose a test

The BBC identified striker Erling Haaland as a prominent threat in its preview, but Bellamy's comments addressed more than one opponent. His description of League A emphasised the standard throughout the group: fast play and top players in every fixture. Wales's next two matches, both at Cardiff City Stadium, bring Norway first and then Denmark, the side that beat them on Sunday. The sequence gives Wales another chance to respond quickly after their two away defeats.

Different views of Wales's form

Former Wales international Nia Jones told the BBC's Feast of Football podcast that she felt the team had “plateaued” after the excitement of Bellamy's early games. Former striker Nathan Blake suggested opponents might now understand Wales's pressing approach better. Both were offering assessments of the side's performances, rather than reporting a change in Bellamy's position or speaking for supporters as a whole. Their comments underline the scrutiny that has followed a run without a win.

Denmark manager Brian Riemer offered a different appraisal after his side's victory. He told the BBC he had the “utmost respect” for Wales, cited their unbeaten promotion from League B and noted both their injury problems and narrow defeat in Portugal. Riemer said he expected a difficult return meeting in Cardiff. His comments do not change Sunday's result, but show how another coach in the group assessed Wales before the teams meet again.

The fixtures ahead

Wales host Norway in League A4 on 1 October, with the BBC listing a 19:45 BST kick-off at Cardiff City Stadium. UEFA then schedules Wales at home to Denmark on 4 October, away to Norway on 14 November and at home to Portugal on 17 November. The next match will show whether Wales can secure their first points of this League A campaign; the remaining fixtures leave the wider group outcome open.