Wales head coach Craig Bellamy says he has been through a "really difficult" spell because of criticism aimed his way during the team's winless run. Bellamy's Wales claimed the finest result of his reign as they came from behind to beat Norway 2-1 at the Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday. The victory ended a six-game winless run which began with defeat by Bosnia-Herzegovina in the World Cup play-off semi-final in March.
When asked whether Wales' success had lifted a weight off his shoulders, Bellamy revealed he had "felt the stick" ever since the Bosnia loss. "The summer wasn't easy, then these games weren't easy," he said. "But I've seen it; I've drawn on experience because I've seen managers before me get it.
"I've been part of that, and I've seen the abuse. I've seen the abuse the previous manager got just before me, and I have to be honest, it's been a really difficult couple of months." Live on BBC iPlayer, BBC Two Wales, BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and 5 Live, BBC Sport website and app, plus live text commentary. Former Wales striker Bellamy, who was appointed national boss in July 2024, faced criticism from some fans after holding talks over a potential move to Burnley in June.
In a lengthy news conference after the Norway triumph, he said he feels people "could be kinder to each other" after revealing the negativity aimed at him had also affected his family. "It's not me but I have kids and a wife; it's for them - they see it," he said. "I've lived in this environment and I had it as a player, but I think there's ways we can speak to people, and just because it's the game we love, it doesn't give us the right to think we can say whatever we want to.
"We're such a small country, I'm like... why can't we have each other's backs? Why don't we look after each other more? "I'm not saying everyone's above criticism, far from it.
But I think it's too easy, and we're too quick." Wales beat 10-man Norway to end winless run Bellamy said he did not "want to spoil" the upbeat mood after Wales' morale-boosting win, which was the first against a nation ranked higher in the world since he took charge and the country's first in the top tier of the Nations League. "I'm really happy with it, but I'm happy for the country, you understand?" he added. "It's like, I give everything for my country.
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