Sports · updated 1h ago · 2 min read
Craig Bellamy Says Criticism During Wales Winless Run Made Summer Really Difficult
Wales beat Norway 2-1 to end a six-game winless run. Bellamy says criticism during the winless spell was 'really difficult'.
Whether Haaland/Bellamy backdrop is foregrounded.
7 of 8 outlets skipped it: bellamy says negativity aimed at him also affected his family.
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Sky Sports
“Haaland was largely anonymous though, and it was another former City man in Oscar Bobb who opened the scoring”Read the original ↗
The Guardian
“On a night when Erling Haaland moped around the pitch, dragging his hulking frame across the Cardiff turf”Read the original ↗
Sky Sports leads with match action while The Guardian leans into Haaland’s demeanour and Bellamy’s negativity backdrop.
Bellamy after Norway win
Craig Bellamy said he had endured a "really difficult" spell because of criticism aimed at him during Wales' winless run, after Wales came from behind to beat Norway 2-1 at Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday. Bellamy said the victory ended a six-game winless run that began with defeat by Bosnia-Herzegovina in the World Cup play-off semi-final in March, and he described the result as the finest of his reign.
Bellamy said he had "felt the stick" ever since the Bosnia loss, adding that "The summer wasn't easy, then these games weren't easy," as he reflected on months of pressure. Bellamy also said he faced criticism from some supporters after holding talks over a potential move to Burnley in June, and he said he urged people to be kinder in how they speak to others after the Norway match.
Abuse, family, and tone
Craig Bellamy said the negativity aimed at him had affected his family, and he told reporters, "It's not me but I have kids and a wife; it's for them - they see it."
Neco Williams said Wales had to put right the standards after the first two games, and he told BBC Sport, "We knew the first two games wasn't us. The principles, the standards."
Bellamy said he did not want to spoil the upbeat mood after the win, and he added, "I don't want to spoil" the upbeat mood after Wales' morale-boosting win.
Martin Ødegaard said Norway had to respond after losing successive games for the first time in four years, telling the Guardian, "Now we have to respond, stick together and fight back."T
First Nations League A win
Wales secured their first Nations League A win in their ninth match in the competition's top tier, and the result came as their first victory over a nation ranked higher in the world since Bellamy took charge. Sky Sports said Oscar Bobb opened the scoring for Norway and Torbjorn Heggem was shown a marching orders 15 seconds into the second half, before Neco Williams scored the free-kick to turn the game.S
The Guardian said Wales registered a welcome victory over 10-man Norway and described the night as Erling Haaland moped around the pitch while Wales fought back through Daniel James and Neco Williams. TBellamy said he was "really happy" with the win but was also "happy for the country," and he said he "turned down big money to keep doing this" as Wales looked ahead to their next Nations League game.