In an emotional interview discussing the Welsh team's result, Bellamy shows how highly Swans are regarded.
In the aftermath of Wales again coming from behind to snatch a 2-1 win over Scotland, a clearly very emotional Craig Bellamy was interviewed, and gave a clear indication that Swansea have proven to be a strong influence on the football of the national side.
| Craig Bellamy: I used to think he was a how's-your-father, however it turns out he gives millions to charity. Top chap. |
It's long been stated (and long been ignored) that to build a successful national team you need two things; a core of players who know each other very well, and an established playing style. Toshack started to develop this kind of policy, however Robbie Savage and his media bloodhounds soon put paid to that, but in fairness Gary Speed was doing an outstanding job. Four wins out of five is a far cry from the Wales we've become used to in recent times, and the squad did seem to have turned a corner.
The continuation of blooding young players will ultimately pay dividends for Wales. You only have to look at Greece, who won the European Championship in 2004, to realise that you don't need a squad full of world-beaters to beat the best players in the world, you just need the best squad. That being said, I wouldn't kick Gareth Bale out of the squad, he's alright like.
The adoption of a Swansea-esque playing style will ultimately benefit the national team, as players coming into the squad will know what they are expected to do, however Bellamy namedropping both the Swans, and former Swansea defender Chris Coleman like this must irk some Cardiff fans.
"Swansea have educated us all. Swansea have lit the light,"
"We had an incredible human being [Gary Speed] who came into our national squad as manager and wanted to emphasise that.
"Cookie [Chris Coleman] is trying to do the same as well and trying to deliver the same philosophy We've gone this way with our football in the last few years.
"We were left a legacy by an incredible human being and we've followed that through, which makes me even more proud that… we represent him [Speed] every time we play.
"I'm not emotional. I'm just proud." Craig Bellamy
Sounds just a little emotional, if you ask me.
Discussing Scotland's opener Bellamy indicated there's still work to be done on the training ground;
"Another set piece which we need to do something about - that's eight set pieces now we've conceded in this group; We can't do that, and I said at half time, 'if we lose, we lose'.
"The philosophy of the football is playing football and keeping the ball. I can take a loss. I can walk off, as long as my head's held high and I'm passing the ball like that, I'll lose. If that's not good enough, then it's not good enough."
I don't think it can be emphasised enough just how impressed I am by the acceptance of this philosophy by the Wales set-up. For so long it's seemed archaic, resistant to change and indicative of everything that's wrong with "old boy networks" and "the top brass" - but it seems Gary Speed's tenure has left a legacy which has revitalised Wales, even if there was an understandable dip in performance levels following his tragic death.
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| Gareth Bale, or, as he's come to be known recently, "Tottenham Hotspur". |
The Swans must, of course, guard against complacency in the run in. All but mathematically safe from relegation and with European football secured, some teams would ease up down the final run-in, but with transfers expected and Laudrup on record as wanting to trim his squad, most of the Swansea squad are playing for their futures. There's probably a handful of players (Ash, Chico, Taylor, Davies, Britton, Ki, Michu, Routledge, Hernandez, Dyer) who can consider themselves safe but I wouldn't be surprised if we saw one or two shock departures.
Next up are Spurs, and with (international players aside) both squads enjoying an extended rest & recuperation period it's likely we're going to see an electric ninety minutes of football.
One final note is that Gareth Bale aggravated an ankle injury against Scotland and failed to reappear for the second half. If he fancies giving it a go for Wales against Croatia, I've no objection to him picking up a little harmless niggle which rules him out of the Swans game whatsoever...