FT: WALES 3 - 1 KAZAKHSTAN. Match thread

Saturday 22nd March, ko 7:45pm
Live on BBC1 Wales, S4C and iPlayer
Cardiff City Stadium

Match Officials:

Referee: Donatas Rumšas LTU
Assistant Referee 1: Aleksandr Radiuš LTU
Assistant Referee 2: Dovydas Sužiedėlis LTU
Fourth Official: Manfredas Lukjančukas LTU
Video Assistant Referee: Donatas Šimėnas LTU

Bellamy calls on players to enjoy the game

Cymru head coach Craig Bellamy also spoke to the media in Friday afternoon ahead of the opening 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan.

“We had a meeting on Monday about what we learnt from the Nations League campaign and its been about reinforcing those messages,” he explained. “I’ve been really impressed with them this week and I’m excited about what’s to come.

“I want players to be to express themselves, and if you have the ball at your feet it will show a true version of you. We allow players to take responsibility. I want them to feel free to express themselves with the ball. Without the ball, you have to able to work for the team, and all these elements allow you to enjoy the ball. But if you cannot work without the ball, this is not the environment for you.”

Bellamy also spoke about Saturday’s opponents and the qualifying campaign ahead. “It’s a tough game,” he added. “What we’ve seen of them doesn’t change my opinion. We know the goal, we know where we want to go to, but it won’t be done tomorrow night. We can’t look too far ahead because it can become overwhelming. It’s one step at a time, and that’s life, not just football. We have to take care of tomorrow.

“Enjoy it, that’s the message. I wish I had enjoyed my career more. This is everything. If you cannot enjoy this, why would you put yourself in this position. Sometimes you get caught up in the games and competition for places and you forget how good this is. I’m grateful for this opportunity and grateful to be back at this level.”

Looking at the squad earlier.
I reckon we'll do well to win this one.

They've done the double over Northern Ireland..and beaten Denmark.

I wonder what our resident Ashley hater thinks of this ?

Of the 26 players in this Welsh squad, exactly half were born outside Wales – 11 in England and one, goalkeeper Adam Davies, in Germany.
What’s more, five members of the squad have represented England at youth level: Jay Dasilva, David Brooks, Jordan James, Brennan Johnson and Rabbi Matondo. Kieffer Moore, meanwhile, has featured for the England C team, the Three Lions’ non-League side.
Switching allegiance is nothing new, but the current Wales crop perfectly encapsulates how increasingly cosmopolitan international football has become, even within the relatively small sphere of the Home Nations.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BLUETIT

I wonder what our resident Ashley hater thinks of this ?

Of the 26 players in this Welsh squad, exactly half were born outside Wales – 11 in England and one, goalkeeper Adam Davies, in Germany.
What’s more, five members of the squad have represented England at youth level: Jay Dasilva, David Brooks, Jordan James, Brennan Johnson and Rabbi Matondo. Kieffer Moore, meanwhile, has featured for the England C team, the Three Lions’ non-League side.
Switching allegiance is nothing new, but the current Wales crop perfectly encapsulates how increasingly cosmopolitan international football has become, even within the relatively small sphere of the Home Nations.

---

When people say that Wales punches above its weight in football for a small country of only 3m people, it rather overlooks the fact that many of the players have very little connection with the country.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by D. Advocaat

When people say that Wales punches above its weight in football for a small country of only 3m people, it rather overlooks the fact that many of the players have very little connection with the country.

---

Need all the help we can get….is it the Irish or Scottish rugby team that’s adopted South Africans of late? Great idea

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by goats

Need all the help we can get….is it the Irish or Scottish rugby team that’s adopted South Africans of late? Great idea

---

The Scotboks

VAR later?

What channel is showing the game over there? I'm going to have to try a VPN connection. It's being shown on yet another subscription channel over here and I've already got too many of them.

BBC1

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NYCBlue

What channel is showing the game over there? I'm going to have to try a VPN connection. It's being shown on yet another subscription channel over here and I've already got too many of them.

---

Which channel is that, please?

I don't have ESPN nowadays

BBC 1 Wales
BBC 3

https://i.ibb.co/Hf3TCfTZ/CymruXI.jpg

Potential starting formation?

Darlow

Roberts - Rodon - Davies - Williams

Sheehan - Cullen

James - Brooks - Thomas

Johnson

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wales-Bales

Potential starting formation?

Darlow

Roberts - Rodon - Davies - Williams

Sheehan - Cullen

James - Brooks - Thomas

Johnson

---

Looks lob-sided to me

Would prefer Jordan James to Cullen

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BLUETIT

Looks lob-sided to me

Would prefer Jordan James to Cullen

---

Stick Jordan James and Ampadu in midfield and we are beating England with that line-up :biggrin:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wales-Bales

Stick Jordan James and Ampadu in midfield and we are beating England with that line-up :biggrin:

---

I'd still think Beth Mead and Alex Russo would give them the edge. 🤣

Wales playing well(?), or at least holding possession well. Dunno what it is but I just don't feel as passionate with Wales as I do City

Co commentator just called a pass (The Offload”

I wish that she would **** Offload.

OMG we've got another beauty refereeing :facepalm:
He missed the obvious foul by the Kazakstani and gives them a ridiculous pelanty five seconds later!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wash DC Blue

Co commentator just called a pass (The Offload”

I wish that she would **** Offload.

---

Put it on S4C. Can't understand a word but at least it's a fella :hehe:

I think it probably was a handball.
It wouldn’t be a Wales game without Connor Roberts cocking up.

Sloppy by Wales, that attack came from another poor final ball where we push players forward and leave space between the midfield and defence. Final ball has to be better, three times we couldn't hit a red shirt.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wash DC Blue

I think it probably was a handball.
It wouldn’t be a Wales game without Connor Roberts cocking up.

---

I don't think we can blame him for that one..... :hehe:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tuerto

I don't think we can blame him for that one..... :hehe:

---

I blame Climate Change on the Jack Hunt :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tuerto

Sloppy by Wales, that attack came from another poor final ball where we push players forward and leave space between the midfield and defence. Final ball has to be better, three times we couldn't hit a red shirt.

---

Im listening to the commentators purring about Wales and to me they’ve been slapdash, the goal was lucky and they’ve wasted two great chances.

The penalty should never have been given and it would never have been for the first sixty five years of my life, but they are these days.

Had that been a Welsh player making that challenge the ref would have given a red

Decent build-up play, final ball is terrible.

Can you give a yellow after a VAR?

Pedestrian across the back four, should win it
I'd have wanted their pen the way the game is being run currently, that player should have seen Red.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Eric Cartman

Can you give a yellow after a VAR?

---

Dunno, but a yellow seems right to me.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wash DC Blue

I blame Climate Change on the Jack Hunt :)

---

I worked 28 days on/off in Kazakhstan between 2000-3.
And yes, the climate was dreadful and difficult between -40 DegC to +40 Deg C. That was a big reason why the life expectancy then was only about 50.

Could somebody ask the lady commentating on the game has she ever seen a game of football before
Is she aware of how the game is played and how on earth is she allowed to talk such shite on the telly without being pulled up for it
I’m not against female commentators but ffs
It’s embarrassing the crap she is spouting

I’ve now turned to S4C

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AlwaysFeelinBlue

Wales playing well(?), or at least holding possession well. Dunno what it is but I just don't feel as passionate with Wales as I do City

---

I don’t care about the Welsh international team; not like I do the City.
Cardiff City over Wales for me all day long.

Great ball in from Sorba for the goal.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wash DC Blue

I blame Climate Change on the Jack Hunt :)

---

Harsh, But fair......

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Stanmore Bluebird

I worked 28 days on/off in Kazakhstan between 2000-3.
And yes, the climate was dreadful and difficult between -40 DegC to +40 Deg C. That was a big reason why the life expectancy then was only about 50.

---

Mankini weather some days then?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by binman

Could somebody ask the lady commentating on the game has she ever seen a game of football before
Is she aware of how the game is played and how on earth is she allowed to talk such shite on the telly without being pulled up for it
I’m not against female commentators but ffs
It’s embarrassing the crap she is spouting

I’ve now turned to S4C

---

Her co commentator isn’t any better mind but she is annoying me with her low block references

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wales-Bales

Decent build-up play, final ball is terrible.

---

They’re not really getting pressured during the build up.

I have not been impressed today compared to previous games.

This slow passing around at the back is tedious to watch