What Wales must do to keep World Cup dream alive

Wales are getting used to these moments; high-stakes matches under the lights at Cardiff City Stadium.

For a third successive campaign, Wales are two home wins away from qualifying for a major tournament.

Having taken the play-off route to the 2022 World Cup, they missed out on Euro 2024 at the final hurdle.

On Thursday, they host Bosnia-Herzegovina in a semi-final, with the winners at home to Italy or Northern Ireland five days later, for a place in this summer’s showpiece in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The consistency with which Wales are reaching these stages is a far cry from the barren half a century which preceded Euro 2016.

But those 58 years without being at a major tournament are beginning to fade in the rearview mirror.

Wales know what they must do to keep their World Cup dream alive when they take on Bosnia in Cardiff.

“We’ve done everything we can,” said head coach Craig Bellamy. “You always feel a lot calmer as it goes along. The more you tick off something, the more you reassure yourself.

Wales have been here before. They successfully navigated the play-offs to qualify for the last World Cup, securing their place in the finals for the first time in 64 years.

The current 26-man squad includes 12 members of the matchday 23 when Wales beat Ukraine 1-0 in their play-off final in June 2022 – and there would be more were it not for injuries.

So, when they face Bosnia, Wales can take encouragement from the knowledge that so many of their players have experience of winning these big matches.

“It’s just normal for this group of players. It’s ingrained in them,” said Bellamy.

“It’s not for us to ride the rollercoaster. Everyone in these play-offs wants to get to the World Cup. We completely understand that and our fans will play a big part.

“Their experience in these games will play a big part, but us as coaching staff and the players, we have to be able to separate ourselves at times from it.

As much continuity as there might be in terms of personnel from previous campaigns, this is a different team.

There were occasions when Wales attacked freely under Rob Page – wins over Croatia and Finland come to mind – but they tended to err on the side of caution under Bellamy’s predecessor.

They were lucky to beat Ukraine, outplayed for much of the game but thankful for Gareth Bale’s deflected free-kick, following his two brilliant goals in the semi-final win over Austria.

There is no Bale these days. Nobody can replace the former Real Madrid superstar widely regarded as Wales’ greatest footballer.

But Wales are now collectively a more ambitious and dangerous team, with Harry Wilson stepping up more than anyone to help fill the void left by Bale’s retirement.

Wilson, Daniel James and Brennan Johnson have all developed since the Ukraine win and, with David Brooks back and flourishing since his recovery from cancer, the four players combined to devastating effect when Wales demolished North Macedonia 7-1 last November.

There has been no better example of Wales’ bold reinvention under Bellamy than their dismantling of North Macedonia last time out.

The head coach said it was “as close to the perfect performance as I have seen” after watching his players hammer a team who had only conceded three goals in their previous seven games of the qualifying campaign.

Wales’ fluid front four poured forward at will and linked play beautifully, illustrated by their sumptuous team move for the fourth goal involving Brooks, Wilson and James.

That was the first time those three and Johnson had started together under Bellamy, and that quartet could do damage against a Bosnian defence that conceded a creditable seven goals in their eight qualifiers.

Bellamy wants his side to attack at pace, dominate possession and overwhelm opponents, regardless of who they are up against.

Although it might be unrealistic to expect Wales to hit such heights again on Thursday, their display against North Macedonia serves as a blueprint for their future endeavours.

“The key for us is always to dominate the tempo of the game,” said Bellamy.

“We need to speed it up? We speed it up. We need to slow it down? We slow it down, and be patient.

“We’ve got to go full gas, and I feel people want to see it. I’m not saying this is right or wrong – this is how I like the game.

“I’m not here to pickpocket you. No, I’ll knock your front door. That’s what I love about our game and that’s what I love about this group of players.

Brilliant as Wales were against North Macedonia, the performance was not without its blemishes.

The visitors’ goal was alarmingly simple, with one pass from their own half splitting the Welsh midfield and defence to allow Bojan Miovski time and space in the penalty area to finish.

That was not an isolated incident during the campaign. One drawback of Wales’ enterprising style under Bellamy is the way in which it can leave them defensively vulnerable.

Group winners Belgium exposed that frailty, scoring eight goals during their two victories over Wales.

The Belgians’ 4-2 triumph in Cardiff was the starkest illustration. Wales enjoyed plenty of possession but left an alarming amount of space behind for the likes of Jeremy Doku, who cut loose at Cardiff City Stadium.

Bosnia do not possess the same firepower as Belgium, but Wales cannot afford to gift their opponents those opportunities.

“A chaotic game will not suit us, it suits them,” said Bellamy. “It’s very important that we’re able to move the ball, wait for the openings, and then find the openings.

“And if we do look for the openings, make sure we’re compact enough because, if we don’t, we leave space.”

Cut out the individual errors and lapses in concentration and the home side should be confident of progressing against opponents 36 places below them in the world rankings.

At home and with Bellamy’s words of encouragement ringing in their ears, Wales believe they can beat anyone.

“Bosnia are defensively well organised, very good individual players who are playing with very good teams,” said Bellamy.

“It’s what we do during the game, how we adapt. We have to be patient. We’re experienced enough to smell the game, see what’s happening during the game, to be able to react.