Wales boss praises England’s rise under Tuchel but insists his side are ready to test themselves at Wembley
Wales head coach Craig Bellamy believes it is “only a matter of time” before England win another major international trophy, as his team prepare for a high-profile friendly at Wembley on Thursday, 9 October.
England, ranked fourth in the world, have come close in recent years, finishing runners-up at Euro 2020 and Euro 2024. But Bellamy, who takes charge of Wales in his first senior managerial role, says the quality within Thomas Tuchel’s squad makes them strong contenders to finally end their long wait since the 1966 World Cup triumph.
“This is a team that goes to tournaments to win them. I thought it would have happened before now, but it’s still a matter of time,” Bellamy said.
The Wembley clash will be the first meeting between the two nations since England’s 3-0 win at the 2022 World Cup, which sealed Wales’ early exit. Both sides now have new managers: Bellamy replacing Rob Page and Tuchel succeeding Gareth Southgate.
While acknowledging England’s pedigree, Bellamy stressed that Wales’ focus is on building identity and performance:
“Our biggest rivals are ourselves. Who we are, how we represent our people, and the football we want to play—that’s what matters.”
Off the field, Wales are also trying to convince Tottenham winger Mikey Moore, currently on loan at Rangers, to switch international allegiance. The 18-year-old qualifies through a grandparent despite representing England Under-19s.
After Wembley, Wales will return home to face Belgium in a crucial World Cup qualifier in Cardiff next Monday.
