Back Bellamy’s Wales to Finish in the Top Two of World Cup Qualifying Group J

Wales are in good form with Craig Bellamy at the helm. They topped their Nations League group but now their attention turns to World Cup qualifying. 

The Welsh will fancy their chances of finishing in the top two. They have also recorded some famous victories over Belgium, the favourites for Group J, in recent years so 1st place isn’t out of the question. Scott Thornton makes the case for Wales finishing ahead of their rivals. 

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Improving Statistics Under Bellamy 

Wales sacked Rob Page last June. He steered the team to their first World Cup since 1958 but they failed to make an impact at the tournament. There was no sign of improvement following the tournament and the Welsh FA finally pulled the trigger once the team failed to qualify for Euro 2024. Craig Bellamy has since come in and reinvigorated the squad.  

Bellamy was a player with a huge personality and that has carried through into his management style. He wants his team to hunt for the ball high up the pitch in a bid to create opportunities and control possession. This approach is a far cry from Page’s, who often looked to utilise pace on the counter and defend deep. 

Bellamy’s side are also averaging 57% possession during his tenure. The 0-0 draw in Turkey was the only game in which they saw less of the ball than their opponents. This has enabled them to get the ball to their technically gifted players more frequently.  Brennan Johnson and Dan James are both enjoying exceptional seasons at club level. Harry Wilson has also been effective off the bench for Fulham but he will miss the start of Wales’ campaign after an operation. The trio look set to shine for their national team over the next 12 months.  

A proactive approach to the game has yielded good results thus far. Wales have won three and drawn three under their new manager. During that run, they have scored an average of 1.50 goals per game and conceded 0.67. Wales beat Iceland 4-1 in  their last match and will look

The terrific performance in the Nations League has certainly added confidence where it was lacking but Bellamy has long-term goals as Wales’ boss. He said “I want us to be a top team” and qualifying for the World Cup is a must for any nation that aims to be considered amongst the best. Can they continue on their upward trajectory over the course of the qualifying campaign?

More Famous Wins Over Belgium?

Wales’ toughest test in qualifying is undoubtedly Belgium. The Red Devils have been blessed with plenty of world-class players in recent times but that hasn’t stopped the Welsh from getting a result against them. Wales famously beat the Belgians in the quarter-finals of Euro 2016 but they have also managed to draw the last two competitive games between the sides in Cardiff. More positive results against Belgium would put the team in a strong position to make it into the top two and give them the chance to upset the odds and secure the top spot. 

First up for Wales is Kazakhstan, who are the 110th-ranked team in the world. They have lost their last five competitive matches, conceding 15 and scoring none. This is a great opportunity for Bellamy’s side to start their campaign off on the right foot in front of their own fans. The home side is the overwhelming favourite, so it’s hard to envisage anything other than a comfortable Wales win. 

A trip to North Macedonia for the second game should provide a sterner test for the Welsh but it is one they are capable of passing. They have won their last five matches coming into the World Cup qualifiers. However, those games have been against the Faroe Islands, Latvia and Armenia, all of whom are ranked significantly lower than Wales.

The last team in World Cup qualifying Group J is Liechtenstein. They were beaten 3-1 by San Marino in their last game, handing them their first away win in their history. In fact, Liechtenstein have lost twice against San Marino in the past six months and are widely regarded as the worst national team in Europe. 

The success of Wales’ World Cup qualifying campaign will depend on how they fare against Belgium and North Macedonia. Their recent successes against the Red Devils mean that a top-two finish looks a solid bet. Bellamy’s side are also capable of causing an upset and topping the group. 

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