‘We’re not here as tourists’: Bellamy insists Wales will go on attack against England

Craig Bellamy said Wales would not be “tourists” when they take on England in the Wembley friendly on Thursday night and that he believed his team would succumb to a “slow death” if they set up to defend. The Wales manager vowed to attack Thomas Tuchel’s side in search of a first win against England since 1984, in the first meeting between the sides since a 3-0 defeat in Qatar at the 2022 World Cup. Bellamy suggested a boxing promoter would not pit Wales against England owing to the gulf between the squads but said he wants his team to play on the front foot. “We’re here to come and play, and to play our brand of football the way we play, at an incredible place like Wembley, which it is,” Bellamy said. Related: Clarke nonplussed by Katy Perry but hopes for fireworks from Scotland in qualifiers “So to us it is exciting. We’re not here as tourists, to enjoy the occasion, we’re here to be the best version of ourselves and that allows you to be excited and also to have fun as well.” Bellamy acknowledged that a positive result could empower his players before a crunch World Cup qualifier against Belgium in Cardiff on Monday. “Of course it would help but Monday will take care of itself. We have players who have been in this position, full house at Cardiff, dare I say it, now-or-never moments. “I only just got the job off the back of us missing out on a penalty shootout [Wales did not qualify for Euro 2024 after losing a playoff against Poland]. We live for those moments.” Asked whether he could be tempted to park the bus, Bellamy dismissed the suggestion that England have struggled against opponents who operate with a low block, saying: “I honestly believe if you play this England team and defend deep, you’ll die a slow death. And I’m not into that. Please put me against a wall and end it now. Don’t put me in that position.” Bellamy also played down the rivalry between the nations and reiterated he believed there was no such thing as a friendly. “I had a good teacher … Mark Hughes told me that. Now, due to where we are, England on the border with Wales, people would sense that as a rivalry. We’re not your rivals. You understand that, yes? Because you have to be two top teams going at each other on a consistent basis to be a rival. We’re not. But, to us, like against Canada, we don’t do friendlies. We’re here to win.” He reserved special praise for Harry Kane, who will miss the game. “One of my best friends coaches him right now, so I know a lot about him,” the Wales manager said, alluding to the England captain’s manager at Bayern Munich, Vincent Kompany. “I think he’s the most complete player I’ve ever seen at this present moment and I think Vinny’s had a big say in that as well.” Bellamy expressed his excitement at leading Wales on the touchline at Wembley and considers his former Newcastle manager Sir Bobby Robson, who was in charge of England between 1982 and 1990, as a major inspiration. “I always wish I asked him more questions. Why didn’t I spend more time with him? I took it for granted and that annoys me. Some of the questions I did get to ask him were like gold dust. The most important part of him was how he made me feel before I played. “He made me feel like I was the best player going and that is how I always want my players to feel. To feel that confidence that you’re the best player in the world in this position … that feeling, never underestimate it. He’s always been there and he always will be. Like all young people who believe they know everything and know literally nothing, I wish I asked him more questions. So, yes, foolish, huh?”