Wales captain Ben Davies hailed the composure of head coach Craig Bellamy throughout Saturday’s 3-1 win over Kazakhstan at Cardiff Metropolis Stadium.
Dan James opened the scoring for Wales within the ninth minute, although Askhat Tagybergen equalised with a penalty that almost crept in.
Wales responded nicely within the second half, although, with Davies, who provided the help for James’ opener, and Rabbi Matondo additionally getting on the scoresheet.
And Davies mentioned coach Bellamy, who was famend for his feisty character throughout his taking part in days, deserved loads of credit score for his method at half-time.
“The gamers have been those that have been probably the most annoyed at half-time,” Davies instructed BBC Sport.
“[Bellamy] got here in Mr. Calm, he got here in with a plan, was clear within the messaging he gave us and what he anticipated within the second half, he merely requested for extra vitality and maintain doing what we’re doing.”
It was a sentiment echoed by James, who mentioned: “He [Bellamy] instructed us at half-time to maintain digging in.
“There have been moments within the first half the place we didn’t management the sport as a lot as we wished to, however within the second half we managed it way more.”
FT | 3-1
A successful begin to our @FIFAWorldCup qualifying marketing campaign
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— Wales (@Cymru) March 22, 2025
Wales managed simply 4 photographs earlier than the break, accumulating simply 0.27 anticipated targets. After the interval, these figures shot as much as eight and 1.91 respectively.
Davies nodded in Sorba Thomas’ nook within the forty seventh minute, a set-piece tactic that James highlighted as a particular focus.
“Second half we got here out and scored an important set-piece, in worldwide soccer set-pieces are actually necessary and it’s one thing we’ve been working towards,” the Leeds United ahead mentioned.
Davies was fast to reward Kazakhstan for his or her efforts as nicely. The Tottenham defender added: “We’ve all been in video games like that the place you go into it as favourites, you will have numerous expectations to stroll throughout a crew, however you understand it’s by no means the case. They’re a proud nation that’s out on the pitch making an attempt to win a sport similar to us.
“They made it actually troublesome for us, they have been compact. You can see within the first half we compelled numerous balls after we didn’t really want to.”