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The day after Craig Bellamy smiled and apologised to a Turkish translator for rambling on until the end of an answer, his passion for the job of Wales manager spilled onto the pitch. In the build-up, Bellamy’s nervous energy, that of a first day at school, was understandable and it was no wonder he was excited given the buzz his team were giving off. Officially, it was a Nations League opener against a team four places above them in the table but, in layman’s terms, it was Bellamy’s first test as a coach.
There was still a bit of the old Bellamy in him – fourth official Sigurd Kringstad was never far from a glare – but he must have been delighted with the performance. On the surface, it was a resounding, if not perfect, performance against a Turkish side who played for more than 35 minutes with 10 men after Baris Alper Yilmaz was sent off.
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Since taking over in July, Bellamy has been highly regarded and his team have made a compelling case for his methods. By half-time, Wales had recorded twice as many passes as Turkey, almost twice as many touches, five shots to the visitors’ one and just under 70 per cent possession. Wales reduced Euro 2024 quarter-finalists Turkey to training dummies for much of a one-sided first half, as if it were an extra session of training. Given this, it was hard to believe that Bellamy’s first session with his players was on Monday, after which Bellamy and his staff held meetings to hammer home the plan, which was very clear here.
Bellamy, in crisp white trainers and a black bomber jacket, was eager to get back to playing in familiar surroundings. This game, he said, was the start of a new story for him and his country. His last game as a player came here 10 years ago, for his boyhood club Cardiff City, against Chelsea, for whom Mohamed Salah shone and Fernando Torres scored the winner. The star striker was the only obvious missing piece for Bellamy, whose team attacked with five players high up the pitch, captain Aaron Ramsey, Jordan James and Harry Wilson operating in the centre, flanked by Brennan Johnson and Sorba Thomas, a surprise inclusion. Thomas, who joined from Nantes last month, was busy on his first appearance since March last year and his first start since June 2022. Thomas sent a shot wide seconds into the second half.
Thomas had his goal disallowed for offside in the first half, but Ramsey had Wales’ best chances. After a slick move that began with Johnson backheeling Connor Roberts, Ramsey’s header hit his left shoulder and sailed over the bar. Ramsey then came close to converting Thomas’ low corner at the near post. Ethan Ampadu hit a post. Wales appeared to be enjoying themselves, as did the fans. Bellamy looked good from the moment Ben Davies, playing at left centre-back, sent a diagonal pass into space for Johnson to gallop onto. Bellamy gave Davies a good helping hand.
Wales did not fail to do so, but Yilmaz had Turkey’s first significant shot, sending a weak header into the roof of Danny Ward’s goal. Ward, now more of a backup keeper at Leicester, had a few nervous moments. Bellamy admitted it would be crazy to expect everything to go to plan on his first night, but there was plenty of incisive attacking. Ramsey released Wilson with a lightning first-time pass near halfway, but Johnson could not get his feet in quick enough and sent a first-time shot wide. A minute later, Wilson curled a left-footed shot inches from Mert Gunok’s goal, almost sending Bellamy flying.
Shortly afterwards, the Red Wall paid tribute to Bellamy by chanting the name of their beloved former player and now manager, who took over from his former team-mate Rob Page. On the surface, the Welsh side’s task was made easier, with Yilmaz sent off for a second yellow card after a late tackle on Neco Williams. Yilmaz’s first came in the first half after he tried to get into trouble with Joe Rodon. The substitutions were attacking, with experienced Sheffield United striker Kieffer Moore and Liverpool youngster Lewis Koumas coming on for Ramsey and Thomas.
Within minutes of coming on, Moore found himself in the thick of the war, a harmless collision ending with Caglar Soyuncu kicking him in the face. Moore returned to the pitch with a bandage around his head to cheers from the home side. Turkey could have snatched victory late on through Abdulkerim Bardakci, but his header from a corner landed straight at Ward. There were eight added minutes in which Johnson shot wide and Ampadu attempted an acrobatic overhead kick, but Wales had to settle for a point after an entertaining evening.
