Wales’ winless – Craig Bellamy says Wales need to fix a dismal away-friendly record that has left the Red Dragons winless in their past 16 away matches, with the last away win dating back to November 2008. Ahead of the friendly in Bucharest against Romania, Wales aim to end th
Craig Bellamy watched Wales’ summer end with a 1-1 draw against Ghana at Cardiff City Stadium, then pointed to what comes after: the next test, in Bucharest, against Romania.
He was blunt about where the Red Dragons have struggled. Three days on from facing the Black Stars, Bellamy said his side’s record in away friendlies has been “not great” — and he tied that frustration to a long, stubborn run.
Wales are winless in their past 16 away friendly fixtures, stretching back to November 2008. That is the last time they won away, when Bellamy himself scored the only goal as Wales beat Denmark 1-0 in Brondby.
“Our friendlies are not great when you look at the records,” the Wales boss said. He added: “I think the last time we won away was 2008. It’s like, ‘come on’.”
Bellamy’s message wasn’t just about history. He said expectations — for the public and for the team — have to match what Wales can deliver on the pitch.
“If we want to create expectations, to put demands on ourselves and the public as well, we have to have a better record than what we have,” Bellamy said.
For Wales, the Romania friendly is more than a single match. Bellamy described it as a chance to end the summer schedule on a high and head into their Nations League A campaign later this year in positive spirits.
In that competition, Wales will face Portugal, Denmark and Norway. Captain Ethan Ampadu said the meeting with Romania is one final opportunity in this June camp — not just to play, but to build.
“That’s what our focus has been in this June camp; to raise our levels, to put in better performances, to learn from mistakes that we’ve learned from in the past and to put them right,” Ampadu said.
He continued: “For what’s to come to make sure we prepare to keep building momentum for that.”
The shape of the task is clear: Wales want their last friendly before the Nations League A campaign to break the pattern Bellamy described — a winless away run that has lasted since 2008.
Craig Bellamy Wales Romania friendly Bucharest away record Ethan Ampadu Ghana draw Cardiff City Stadium Nations League A Portugal Denmark Norway
Friendlies don’t even count, right? Wales been fine.
So he’s mad they can’t win away since 2008 like… that’s forever lol. But it’s a friendly vs Romania, not like they’re in the Champions League or anything.
I don’t get it, didn’t Wales win away last year? Maybe I’m thinking of some club match. Either way, Bellamy always talks big and then Wales still stinks on the road.
“Expectations have to match what Wales can deliver” is the most coach sentence ever. If they can’t win away since 2008, maybe they should stop going to places like Bucharest?? Also Nations League A sounds like a punishment, Portugal is gonna cook them.