**Craig Bellamy on Edge as Wales Prepare for Must-Win Qualifier Against Liechtenstein**
Wales manager Craig Bellamy has spoken candidly of his mounting tension ahead of his side’s World Cup qualifier against Liechtenstein on Friday evening at Cardiff City Stadium. Despite holding an unbeaten record since taking charge, Bellamy insists he is not allowing complacency to creep in ahead of what, on paper at least, appears to be a routine fixture.
Bellamy addressed the media in the build-up to the Group J contest, acknowledging the widespread expectation that Wales should comfortably dispatch a side yet to taste victory in a competitive match for nearly five years. However, the manager made it clear that for him, there is no such thing as a straightforward international, and he has been losing sleep preparing for what he calls a vital moment in the qualifying campaign.
“My only focus is to win. That’s it. No distractions about goal difference or how we do it, just that we find a way to take all three points,” Bellamy stressed. “Every match is a chance to keep improving, and our standards don’t change depending on the opposition. We have put as much work into analysing Liechtenstein as we did for our previous opponents.”
The former striker’s intense approach to preparation has been widely credited with reinvigorating the Welsh squad since he assumed the role. He revealed that his commitment extends well into the night as he pores over the tiniest details, driven by a belief that anything less could prove costly.
“I was awake until very late last night, unable to rest,” admitted Bellamy. “That tells you how my mind works. I study every team the same, whether they’re ranked high or low. If you take any game for granted, that’s when football comes back to bite you.”
Bellamy has been drumming the same message into his players since day one—consistency breeds greatness. “We have to be us, whoever the opponent is. That means total effort, focus on the basics, recovery runs, reacting to situations. If we hope to become a top team, we have to deliver that level of performance every time we step onto the pitch.”
While it is expected that Wales will prevail on Friday, Bellamy is acutely aware that nothing can be left to chance in international football. He is not just preparing his squad to win, but to embody the type of discipline and resilience that will see them through sterner challenges ahead, including a daunting trip to Belgium next week.
Adding a slight complication to Bellamy’s preparations is the fitness of key winger Daniel James. The Fulham player has been absent from training this week after contracting an illness, forcing the coaching staff to keep him separate from the main group to avoid the risk of contagion.
“Daniel isn’t well, so we’ve taken the precaution of isolating him from the rest of the squad,” Bellamy confirmed. “Naturally, we can’t take risks with the health of the team. We’re keeping a close watch on him, but we have other options and the situation is under control.”
As kick-off approaches at 7:45pm on Friday, the picture Bellamy paints is not that of a manager calmly overseeing business as usual, but one acutely aware of the unpredictable nature of football. His obsessive preparation and anxiety underline just how much is at stake for Wales—not just to secure three points, but to continue forging an identity rooted in professionalism, consistency, and hunger for progress.
For Welsh supporters, Bellamy’s restless attention to detail and uncompromising standards offer reassurance that the national team is in determined hands. While the match may look straightforward to some, for the manager, the work and worry behind the scenes are anything but.
As Wales continue their qualification campaign, the focus on discipline and improvement remains paramount, with Bellamy hoping that such values will pave the way for future success on the international stage.