Bellamy sure Wales belong as Haaland threat looms

Craig Bellamy remains convinced Wales are worthy of their place in the Nations League top tier despite a losing start to the campaign.

Wales are without a point in their group following a 2-0 defeat in Denmark just three days after losing 1-0 to Portugal in Lisbon.

Wales - without a victory in six matches in 2026 - have failed to win any of their eight matches in League A when combining their current efforts with those in 2022.

But having gained promotion from League B in his first campaign as boss, Bellamy insists Wales have earned the right to come up against Europe's elite on a consistent basis as they prepare to face Erling Haaland's Norway next.

"For us, this [Norway game] is another one, the intensity, top players, real speed," Bellamy added.

"It's what group A is, up and down all the group As. When we were in the pot, we were in pot four and we thought, 'where do you want to be?'.

"They're all brilliant, but we've earned the right to be here."

They return to action with a home double-header against the World Cup quarter-finalists on Thursday (19:45 BST) and a rematch with Denmark.

Norway head to Cardiff after a 2-1 home defeat by Portugal, although they won their opener 3-2 against local rivals Denmark.

And Bellamy believes Stale Solbakken's men can be a force to be reckoned with for the coming years given the investment made in the national team.

"They get to the quarter-finals in the World Cup and you're really on a surge at the present moment," Bellamy said of Norway.

"You've built it in your nation for a number of years, you have two clubs in the Champions League.

"This is a real surge now and I don't think it's going away.

"How rich your country is, it's really spending the money in certain areas and in sport, I expect you to be a force for a number of years."

While Bellamy was unbeaten in his first nine games after taking charge in July 2024, North Macedonia remain the highest-ranked side - 65th - he has got the better of as Wales manager.

"I still want Craig Bellamy to be our manager, but I think there's an element of a new manager bounce when he first came in, there was an excitement and a freedom," former Wales international Nia Jones told the Feast of Football podcast.

"Sometimes the novelty wears off and expectations from opponents and fans go up, and I feel we've plateaued."

Wales now have two games to avoid going a full calendar year without winning for the first time since 1989, which would only put more pressure on Bellamy in his first international window since being linked with the Burnley job.

"When Craig took over, that first game against Turkey, the football was fantastic," said ex-Wales striker Nathan Blake.

"I remember our fans were like 'wow, this is pretty, it's totally changed'. Everything was front-footed.

"Maybe the problem is because we were so good, on the front foot and the pressing was on point and catching teams off guard, maybe teams know what we're going to do."

Bellamy is not the only manager in the group under scrutiny and Denmark's victory over Wales helped to ease the pressure on boss Brian Riemer.

Three days after facing Norway at Cardiff City Stadium, Wales will take on Denmark once again.

Despite outclassing Wales in Copenhagen, Riemer said Bellamy's side should not be disheartened by their opening results in the Nations League.

"He [Bellamy] has done a tremendous job," said Riemer.

"He's also under a bit of pressure when it comes to injuries, a bit like us, and that gives him some headaches I imagine.

"We have the utmost respect for Wales, they went through the B group without losing a game and were unlucky for the World Cup, they only went out on penalties.

"It is a team that has given a lot of teams problems. To go to Portugal and lose with just one is not something you should feel miserable about. We expect a very difficult game in Cardiff."