'close To Perfect' - Bellamy Revels In Wales Masterclass

The pursuit of perfection tin devour immoderate sportspeople. Logically, they cognize nan extremity itself is unattainable, but nan endeavour to get location tin return them to caller heights.

Craig Bellamy is 1 specified person. He doubts whether anyone aliases thing tin beryllium cleanable but, connected Tuesday night, he saw his Wales squad travel adjacent arsenic they dismantled North Macedonia 7-1.

The consequence was 1 thing, nan triumph Wales needed to decorativeness 2nd successful their World Cup qualifying group and unafraid location advantage for their play-off semi-final successful March.

The capacity was different matter altogether, a dizzying operation of expressive, ultra-attacking shot played astatine a accelerated pace, mixed pinch a earthy beingness strength disconnected nan shot which overwhelmed their opponents.

North Macedonia had only conceded 3 goals successful 7 qualifiers earlier coming to Cardiff City Stadium. They doubled that full successful nan abstraction of 19 first-half minutes, earlier leaving nan Welsh superior humiliated.

"I americium not a cleanable person, I haven't travel crossed anyone who is," said Bellamy .

"But possibly I return a small spot of that backmost because that was arsenic adjacent to nan cleanable capacity arsenic I person seen. That was incredible.

"The measurement we were capable to usage nan ball, our timing. We didn't play pinch a forward, we had 3 [number] 10s. But they were successful nan position wherever you resistance personification retired and personification runs, past nan wide players were connected pinch it arsenic well.

"We were conscionable truthful cleanable pinch nan shot and that allows you to person bully chances. It was 1 of those days wherever we are capable to return them arsenic well."

This was meant to beryllium a tense evening successful which Wales would beryllium made to sweat by a North Macedonia broadside who had not conceded a azygous extremity distant from location during this run and only needed a tie to support clasp of 2nd place.

Instead, this was a crippled free of immoderate worry arsenic Wales blew their opponents distant to create a carnival ambiance astatine Cardiff City Stadium.

This capacity was nan culmination of each that Bellamy has tried to instil successful his squad since he took complaint past year: relentless pressing retired of possession and, successful it, fluid guardant lines and a single-minded attraction connected attacking.

This was a realisation of Bellamy's imagination for Wales.

"I cognize North Macedonia will consciousness this 1 tonight, but they've been superb successful nan group," said Bellamy.

"I do consciousness there's been a fewer games they've been fortunate successful and I did consciousness location was a squad fresh to wounded them, and I thought it could beryllium us."

As good arsenic crushing North Macedonia, Tuesday's Welsh capacity will service arsenic a informing changeable to their imaginable play-off opponents.

Wales will beryllium successful cookware 2 erstwhile nan tie is made successful Zurich connected Thursday, meaning they will big 1 of nan cookware 3 teams – Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo aliases Republic of Ireland – successful their play-off semi-final.

Home advantage for nan last – which, for illustration nan semi, will beryllium played complete 1 limb – will beryllium decided during nan aforesaid draw.

Since this format was introduced, Wales person played each 4 of their World Cup and European Championship play-off semi-finals and finals successful Cardiff, winning three.

What they dream will beryllium different 2 matches adjacent March will beryllium nan astir important of Bellamy's tenure.

Against North Macedonia, his players showed really emphatically they tin emergence to nan occasion.

"When we play home, it's very important for us. Tonight was arsenic adjacent to cleanable that I could person asked for," said Bellamy successful nan aftermath of his side's display.

"But you person to beryllium wary of these teams, and I cognize we're successful cookware two. The teams successful cookware 3 are going to beryllium akin to what we faced tonight.

"But I'll conscionable bask coming - a really apical performance."