24/03/2025

Read

iPaper at Malaysian Paper

www.thesun.my Free access to iPaper PDF Download

app from the App Store or Google Play TM . Malaysian Paper or download

SCAN ME

SCAN ME

MONDAY | MAR 24, 2025

Malaysian Paper

‘Mr Calm’ Bellamy Wales manager’s midas touch brings Dragons victory in opening World Cup qualifier

Kazakhstan’s goalkeeper Alexandr Zarutskiy (left) punches the ball away as he saves from Wales’ Ben Davies (right) during the 2026 World Cup Group J qualifier. – AFPPIC

W ALES opened their World Cup campaign with a 3-1 victory over Kazakhstan. Daniel James gave Wales an early advantage before a near-capacity 32,473 crowd at the Cardiff City Stadium but that was wiped out by Askhat Tagybergen’s penalty, awarded after Connor Roberts had handled. Kazakhstan were threatening to throw a spanner in the works but skipper Ben Davies and Rabbi Matondo, with his first Wales goal in the final minute, ensured a winning start for Craig Bellamy’s side. It was only then at Welsh fans could breathe easily, but Bellamy will be delighted to bank three points before a tougher assignment in North Macedonia on Wednesday (3.45am Malaysian time). Davies praised Bellamy for being “Mr. Calm” at halftime as Kazakhstan threatened to derail Wales’ World Cup adventure at the very first stop. “They made it really difficult for us, they were compact. You could see in the first half we forced a

lot of balls when we didn’t really need to,” Davies, who scored Wales’ second goal, told the BBC . “In the second half we were much more disciplined and we got the job done, which is the most important thing. “The goal (Davies scored) came at such a perfect time for us, the longer it goes on at 1-1 it makes it a bit of a tense game. “We’ve all been in games like that where you go into it as favourites, you have a lot of expectations to walk all over a team, but you know it’s never the case. “They’re a proud nation that’s out on the pitch trying to win a game just like us. “The players were the ones that were the most frustrated at halftime, whereas Bellamy came in Mr. Calm. “He came in with a plan, was clear in the messaging he gave us and what he expected in the second half, he simply asked for more energy and keep doing what we’re doing.” Wales are now unbeaten in seven games since Bellamy took charge last year.

They topped their Nations League group, winning promotion to join the top European nations, and now head to North Macedonia with their bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup up and running. Bellamy said: “We need to be patient with the ball and supporters need to be patient as well. “I still hear the shouts, ‘get it forward, get it there.’ I know, but I’m not hitting up ‘there’ when we have the numbers ‘here.’ I much prefer our players being on the ball than not. “For me it’s something different to maybe what’s been asked of Wales before. “I’m not here to say this is right and that was wrong. But how I look at the game, it was going to be a test for them.” North Macedonia began their World Cup campaign on Sunday with a 3-0 victory in Liechtenstein. “They’re a good team,” Bellamy said of the upcoming challenge in Skopje. “We have to be at our best. “I like the challenge of being able to prepare a

team to go to somewhere like North Macedonia. “You have to embrace that and be excited about it. We’ve done a lot of work on them, so we’ll see where they’re at. “It’s going to be a difficult game, we’ll need a different type of profile, a different type of energy for that game.” Group favourites Belgium, currently involved in the Nations League playoffs, begin World Cup action in June. Wales had to wait until the final minute before victory was sealed by Matondo’s first international goal. The Cardiff-raised winger, currently on loan at German club Hannover from Rangers, swept home Sorba Thomas’ cross to delight his home crowd. Bellamy said: “I’ve known Rabbi since he was very young. It’s been so good having him in the group. “He’s such a character he’s so funny, the players and staff love him, you can’t help but love him.” – The Independent/Agencies

Top seeds advance in Miami

McLaren one-two in Shanghai

- Story on page 28

- Story on page 29

theSun is published and printed by Sun Media Corporation Sdn Bhd (221220-K) of Lot 6, Jalan 51/217, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Tel: 03-7784 6688 • Tel (Editorial): 03-7784 6688 Fax: 03-7785 2625 Email: newsdesk@thesundaily.com • Tel (Advertising): 03-7784 8888 Email: advertise@thesundaily.com