Bellamy Builds For Wales' Future In 'toughest' Week

Anybody who has had to train for an endurance arena - aliases is moreover vaguely acquainted pinch buzzwords of nan firm world - will cognize astir nan conception of getting comfortable being uncomfortable.

For athletes, it represents nan process of learning to header pinch long, draining beingness exertions, while successful business position it mightiness beryllium nan vulnerability to caller and challenging experiences.

Craig Bellamy mightiness person had some iterations successful mind erstwhile he utilized nan building arsenic portion of his mentation for choosing Canada arsenic friends opponents for his Wales broadside connected Tuesday.

The caput coach sewage what he asked for – and past immoderate – arsenic his youthful, much-changed squad were beaten by adjacent year's World Cup co-hosts.

"This has been nan toughest week, but it's been really enjoyable because you person to beryllium elastic and you person to beryllium capable to adapt. It's been different," Bellamy said aft nan 1-0 conclusion successful Swansea.

"We request to play apical teams. We request to play them because of nan speed, nan transition, each these moments, nan physicality. We person to move nan shot quicker, we person to make decisions quicker and that's what we request to beryllium exposed to.

"That's what I judge apical players are capable to do and connected a accordant basis. And surely playing astatine nan apical level allows you to expose our players to that. And this was nan opportunity of being capable to do that today.

"I still wanted to win, spot me. I'm really not happy because I dislike losing much than I for illustration winning."

This was Bellamy's first friends successful complaint of Wales, and he picked Canada – 3 places higher than his broadside successful nan world rankings – because he wanted to expose his fringe players to a modular they whitethorn not person antecedently encountered.

There were 3 debuts successful Swansea – Ronan Kpakio from nan start, midfielders Joel Colwill and Kai Andrews arsenic substitutes – to spell pinch Dylan Lawlor's awesome first world quality successful Kazakhstan nan erstwhile Thursday.

Given Wales' constricted resources, it is basal their subordinate excavation is expanded.

But while they were having to move to their inexperienced players – immoderate from League One clubs – Canada were capable to prime a beardown line-up pinch only 2 enforced changes from their 3-0 triumph successful Romania past Friday.

"I don't do excuses. I don't talk astir process and this and that. I'm successful nan present and now, I want to win," said Bellamy.

"But besides it was Charlie Crew's first start, Ronan Kpakio's debut, Kai Andrews' debut, Joel Colwill's debut, and we had 1 aliases 2 fringe players. It was bully for maine to springiness them nan opportunity because they haven't had that opportunity to play because each crippled I've had location has been points connected it.

"I needed to spot nan squad arsenic good and I needed to spot what they picked up pinch us. Can they play successful our way? And I person to beryllium honest, I was very impressed pinch that.

"But that velocity of securing balls and seeing pressure, coming up pinch nan ball, immoderate of our boys person ne'er been exposed to that. The convention they're in, they're not going to get exposed to that. This is simply a jump.

"And past you person a skipper successful Ben Davies, who was incredible. They sewage a due illustration today. You want to spot an world footballer? You want to spot what nan world shape is? Hopefully, this will thief them go apical players for Wales successful nan future. But I want them now."

Bellamy says he does not judge location is specified point arsenic a friendly, successful nan consciousness that location is simply a value to each fixture.

Canada appeared to beryllium of nan aforesaid belief. As associated hosts of adjacent year's World Cup, Jesse Marsch's broadside do not request to suffice truthful they are utilizing friendlies for illustration these arsenic mentation alternatively of officially competitory matches.

The consequence was that this brushwood was played pinch overmuch much of an separator than a emblematic friendly, pinch 7 yellowish cards – including 1 for erstwhile Leeds United leader Marsch – arsenic tempers flared connected and disconnected nan field.

Bellamy and his unit were irked that their Canadian counterparts were celebrating earlier nan last whistle and, though nan communal respect from some camps was clear, nan Wales caput coach hopes to renew that rivalry astatine adjacent summer's World Cup.

"I spot them celebrating astatine nan end, I'm like: 'I dream I spot you astatine nan World Cup. I dream I spot you again'," Bellamy said.

"But I person to besides beryllium gracious, convey Jesse. I don't want to get utilized to it but I person to return it connected nan chin. It was much like, please, observe aft nan whistle."