BBC Sportfootball

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Related BBC sites

Page last updated at 16:13 GMT, Friday, 27 March 2009

Make or break for Wales - Bellamy

FIFA WORLD CUP 2010 QUALIFYING GROUP FOUR
WALES V FINLAND
Venue: Millennium Stadium Date: Saturday, 28 March Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage: Full commentary on BBC Radio Wales and online, live text commentary online and score updates on BBC Radio 5 Live and online


Advertisement

Interview - Wales captain Craig Bellamy

Captain Craig Bellamy says Wales' World Cup qualifier against Finland on Saturday is "make-or-break".

Victory would keep them in the hunt for second place in Group Four and the chance of the play-off places for the eight best runners-up out of nine.

But failure to win could leave them with an uphill task as Russia and Finland will still have games in hand.

"We obviously get to a time in any group stage, like now, where this is make or break for us," said Bellamy.

"We are aware of the size of this game and and how important it is for us, and hopefully we can get a result.

"If we are going to put pressure on [leaders] Germany and Russia, we need to beat Finland."

Bellamy, 29, says the game is important for both sides as Finland are not out of the race either.

But he points to the age difference in the two squads.

Most of the Wales squad is under 25 years of age, while the Fins have just four under that age and nine of their 20-man squad is over 30, with Jari Litmanen the oldest at 38.

606: DEBATE

"They have an ageing squad, but that can always benefit you with experience as well," added Man City striker Bellamy.

"One thing we do have is a lot of legs.

"For the first time that I have been in the squad, we do have a lot of athletes at the moment who can cover the ground and hopefully that will be a big advantage for us."

Fewer than 20,000 tickets have been sold for Saturday's crucial qualifier at the Millennium Stadium.

And Bellamy has resigned himself to the fact that Wales are poorly followed at international level.

But he is hoping more will turn up, not just for the team's sake, but his own too.

"It's a little bit disappointing but I've been in this situation for the last four or five years," he said.

"This isn't uncommon for us. We've been playing in near enough empty stadiums for a long time now.

Toshack laughs off attacking question

"You become used to it with Wales to be honest.

"It's not nice when my kids are watching and they hear my language because it echoes all around the stadium.

"My wife is horrified when get home but I could do with a crowd for my own personal language."

And assistant manager Roy Evans says Wales must attract more ticket sales by producing successful performances.

"We have to make our own atmosphere. Much has been said about it. We can't drag people in the stadium. We have got to do it by results," said Evans

"We feel we have improved over the years now and we are getting competitive even against the top teams which is decent.

"But like anything you have to start winning games and qualifying for these big competitions."


Wales 24-man squad to face Finland on 28 March and Germany on 1 April: Wayne Hennessey (Wolves), Boaz Myhill (Hull), Owain Fon Williams (Stockport), Gareth Bale (Tottenham), James Collins (West Ham), Chris Gunter (Nottingham Forest), Lewin Nyatanga (Derby), Sam Ricketts (Hull), Ashley Williams (Swansea), Simon Davies (Fulham), David Edwards (Wolves), Carl Fletcher (Plymouth), Owain Tudur Jones (Swindon), Jason Koumas (Wigan), Joe Ledley (Cardiff), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal), Carl Robinson (Toronto), Craig Bellamy (Manchester City), David Cotterill (Sheffield United), Robert Earnshaw (Nottingham Forest), Ched Evans (Manchester City), Sam Vokes (Wolves).

Finland squad: Jussi Jaaskelainen (Bolton), Niki Maenpaa (Den Bosch), Veli Lampi (Zurich), Hannu Tihinen (Zurich), Sami Hyypia (Liverpool), Petri Pasanen (Werder Bremen), Toni Kallio (Fulham), Niklas Moisander (AZ Alkmaar), Markus Heikkinen (Rapid Vienna), Teemu Tainio (Sunderland), Roman Eremenko (Dynamo Kiev), Joonas Kolkka (NAC Breda), Mika Vayrynen (Heerenveen), Roni Porokara (Orebro SK), Daniel Sjolund (Djurgardens), Jonatan Johansson (Hibernian), Jari Litmanen (FC Lahti), Mikael Forssell (Hannover 96), Shefki Kuqi (Crystal Palace), Alexei Eremenenko jr (FC Saturn).



Print Sponsor


see also
Collins fitness boost for Wales
27 Mar 09 |  Internationals
Wales clash vital, says Forssell
27 Mar 09 |  Internationals
Biggest game for years - Earnshaw
26 Mar 09 |  Internationals
Earnshaw urged for Wales revival
08 Aug 08 |  Internationals
Pick your Wales XI
05 Feb 07 |  Internationals
Wales' international fixtures
22 Aug 07 |  Internationals


related bbc links:

related internet links:
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites