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Wales latest: Craig Bellamy gives update on future after devastating World Cup play-off loss
Mar 27 2026 09:10 · By onefootball.com · 50 Reads
Craig Bellamy said Wales will ‘hurt’ after a penalty shoot-out defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina (REUTERS)
Wales missed out on a second consecutive World Cup in heartbreaking fashion after losing on penalties in their play-off semi-final against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Cardiff.
Dan James scored a second-half screamer to seemingly set Wales on their way, but Bosnia captain Edin Dzeko equalised with four minutes remaining to send the contest to extra time.
Penalties felt inevitable amid a nervy extra half-an-hour and, in the end, it was Brennan Johnson and Neco Williams who missed crucial spot-kicks , as the visitors caused an upset away from home to emerge 4-2 winners in the shoot-out.
"We're going to hurt, but there's a bright future,” manager Craig Bellamy said. “It's hard to think about now, even though I'm trying. We've got a home nations Euros coming up, what an incredible time. We wanted to be in a World Cup this summer, but the future is very bright. There are some good years ahead for Wales .”
Both Wales and the Republic of Ireland were minutes from hosting a World Cup play-off final on Tuesday – only for near-post headers and penalties to be their undoing
Both Wales and the Republic of Ireland were minutes from hosting a World Cup play-off final on Tuesday – only for near-post headers and penalties to be their undoing
Kieran Jackson27 March 2026 08:15
"We've got a home nations Euros coming up, what an incredible time.
"We wanted to be in a World Cup this summer, but the future is very bright. There are some good years ahead for Wales .
"I'm disappointed for the players we couldn't get back-to-back World Cups because we are a good team."
Jamie Braidwood27 March 2026 07:50
"We are happy that we could celebrate with our fans.
"They follow us everywhere we go and this is just as much for them as it is us. I think it was just about that one ball that comes and we score from it.
"I think at the beginning we were a bit shy and protecting our goal, even though they only had one chance in the first half. The goal they scored was a bit unlucky for us but I think it gave us a different energy, power and confidence.
"Once we got it to 1-1 I think we deserved it, and I think at the end we had chances to get that second goal. Wales got forward more in the second half but we defended well and won the game on penalties."
(Getty Images)
Kieran Jackson27 March 2026 05:00