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

<ul><li><p>Wales manager downplays rivalry with England</p></li><li><p>‘If you defend deep, you’ll die a slow death’</p></li></ul><p>Craig Bellamy said Wales would not be “tourists” when they take on England in Thursday night’s Wembley friendly 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 over England since 1984, in the first meeting between the teams since a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/nov/29/wales-england-world-cup-group-b-match-report">3-0 defeat in Qatar</a> at the 2022 World Cup.</p><p>Bellamy suggested a boxing promoter <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/oct/06/england-v-wales-boxing-match-craig-bellamy">would not pit Wales against England</a> 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. “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.”</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/oct/08/bellamy-wales-england-friendly">Continue reading...</a>