Craig Bellamy believes Wales’ Nations League take a look at in Turkey presents the proper rehearsal for his or her World Cup qualification marketing campaign subsequent yr.
Wales enter the Kadir Has Stadium in Kayseri on Saturday night anticipating an intimidating environment, with their travelling 1,000-strong assist tucked away within the nook of a 33,000-capacity enviornment that’s proper on prime of the gamers.
Turkey followers are identified worldwide for his or her fervour and keenness, which is one thing that Manchester United and Tottenham supporters can testify to from their European travels in current weeks.
Nations League promotion is on the road for Wales – profitable in Kayseri and beating Iceland at house on Tuesday will assure their place within the prime tier of the competitors’s subsequent version.
However boss Bellamy is aware of the primary goal is reaching the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the USA, qualification for which begins subsequent yr.
“Coming to a country as passionate about football as Turkey is, that’s always an honour,” stated Bellamy, the primary Wales supervisor to be unbeaten in his opening 4 video games after two wins and two attracts.
“You must relish this, it is so good. Will we be capable of play how we need to play? That is going to be the take a look at.
“It is (Nations League) six games to prepare for the World Cup and what scenario that’s going to be.
“What can we do in these six games to take us close to giving us a realistic and good opportunity of qualifying for the World Cup?
“To date, so good, however that is what makes this so good is as a result of it should permit us to shorten that hole.
“I don’t know how it’s going to go but I’m so looking forward to seeing who we are.
“If you are going to qualify for a World Cup, you need to come to those locations. We have already proven good indicators to date however, after this recreation, we will know much more about ourselves.”
Turkey have been Bellamy’s maiden opponents in September on the again of reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 in the summertime.
Wales dominated that Cardiff conflict, having 15 pictures to 5, however Turkey held agency for a 0-0 draw.
Vincenzo Montella’s facet have gained their three Nations League video games since to carry a two-point benefit over Wales on the prime of Group B4.
“It was a good starting point for us and this is another really good challenge,” stated Bellamy, whose facet will begin their World Cup qualifying marketing campaign in March in a five-team group ought to they overhaul Turkey.
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Sky Sports activities’ Geraint Hughes opinions Wales’ 1-0 victory over Montenegro as Craig Bellamy change into the primary Wales senior males’s supervisor to be unbeaten in his first 4 matches.
“The intense atmosphere adds to it being a really exciting game. Can we dominate the tempo of the game? Can we make it quiet?
“I count on the primary 10 to twenty minutes to be a very robust interval, perhaps a little bit of ache, however then the sport will quiet down. I would like the staff to really feel like they will win each recreation, regardless of the place it’s.”
Failing to win the group would see Wales contest the Nations League play-offs in March, thereby delaying the start of their World Cup qualifying campaign until September 2025.
Bellamy said: “We’ll maintain constructing and maintain bettering, permitting us to succeed in our final objective, to be on the World Cup.
“I don’t care who we get in our group. There are not going to be any favours given to you, no matter what happens in these scenarios in the Nations League. There is no easy route to qualify for a World Cup, nor should there be, nor would we want there to be.”
Who will Bellamy choose in objective?
Danny Ward throughout Leicester’s shoot-out win over Walsall
Wales have rotated their goalkeepers within the Nations League with long-time custodian Danny Ward and newcomer Karl Darlow each beginning twice within the marketing campaign.
Bellamy is relaxed with the coverage, stating there isn’t any want to call his No 1 now with World Cup qualifying not beginning till subsequent yr.
Possibly, although, Bellamy’s choice for the robust activity in Kayseri will present some clues to who will ultimately get the gloves in World Cup qualifying.
Wales’ Nations League standing at stake
Sky Sports activities’ Ben Grounds:
Bellamy has already etched his title into Welsh soccer folklore by changing into the primary Wales supervisor to be unbeaten in his first 4 video games – however taking part in the Euro 2024 quarter-finalists in their very own again yard presents essentially the most formidable take a look at of his tenure so far.
Harry Wilson has been their Nations League talisman, changing into the primary nationwide males’s staff participant since Gareth Bale at Euro 2016 to attain in three consecutive video games.
Wilson produced good finishes in Montenegro and Iceland earlier than stroking house a match-winning penalty in opposition to Montenegro final month.
Though he’s but to begin a Premier League recreation for Fulham this time period, he has maintained his fantastic scoring type off the bench with three objectives in two substitute appearances in opposition to Brentford and Crystal Palace.
How Wales may do with him carrying his membership type with him into the subsequent two video games.
If Bellamy’s boys end runners-up they may go into the March play-offs to play a two-legged tie in opposition to a third-placed staff in League A, which means the beginning of their World Cup qualifying marketing campaign shall be delayed till September.
