Craig Bellamy believes Wales' Nations League A group has been thrown wide open following his side's dramatic comeback victory over Norway, a result that ended a lengthy winless run and offered fresh hope for a campaign that had threatened to stall.
Wales fought back from behind to beat Norway, securing their first win in the top tier of the Nations League across two campaigns in the competition. The triumph also snapped a six-match run without victory stretching back to November 2025, a period Bellamy admitted had been testing for him and his squad.
With Portugal already pulling clear at the top of the group, Bellamy suggested the real battle now lies between Wales, Norway and Denmark for the remaining places. "Basically, the group's exploded now between the three of us because, obviously, Denmark will look at it and say, well, they didn't expect that, so we all sit on three points apart from Portugal," Bellamy said.
The Wales manager was candid in his assessment of Portugal's position at the summit of the group, conceding that the Iberian side appear out of reach for the chasing pack. "Portugal have run away with this, and they're going to win the group," he said. "Now can we really be in the mix with these two heavyweight Scandinavian teams? That's the aim. We'll see where that goes."
Attention now turns to a meeting with Denmark, who sit 21st in the world rankings, as Wales look to build momentum from their win over Norway. Bellamy was clear that replicating the level of performance shown in that victory will be essential if his side are to continue their upward trajectory. "We have to perform like we did against Norway," he said. "That's all I'm thinking about again - consistency and perform, perform, perform."
The Welsh boss also touched on the broader significance of finishing in a strong position within the group, acknowledging that avoiding tougher opposition in future rounds would represent a tangible benefit. Wales have found the gap in quality clear when facing top-seeded nations, and Bellamy is eager to ensure his side are not consistently drawn against the strongest teams going forward.
"We see [the level when] we're playing against teams who are pot one, so if we don't have to play another pot one, then it's nice," Bellamy explained. "It's a real motivation, of course. That would really help us."
The win over Norway is being viewed as the standout moment of Bellamy's tenure so far, arriving at a crucial juncture after a difficult stretch of results had raised questions about the team's direction. For a manager who has openly discussed the struggles of recent months, the victory offers both relief and a platform to push for a higher finish in the group than many might have expected before the international break.
Wales' next assignment against Denmark will serve as an immediate test of whether the Norway result was a genuine turning point or an isolated high point in an otherwise inconsistent campaign. Bellamy's message to his players in the build-up has been one of repetition and reliability, with the manager keen to avoid the fluctuations in form that have characterised Wales' recent Nations League history.
Should Wales secure another positive result against the Danes, they would move further clear of the lower reaches of the group and strengthen their case to finish above fourth place, a target Bellamy has made clear is firmly on his mind as the campaign progresses.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.