Bellamy - Germany still strong

Wales skipper relishing 'huge task'

Last updated: 14th October 2008

Craig Bellamy Wales

Bellamy: Relishing challenge

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Craig Bellamy has dismissed suggestions that Germany are on the wane ahead of Wales' World Cup qualifier in Monchengladbach.

Germany have performed well in major tournaments in recent years and made it through to the final of Euro 2008 this summer.

They beat Russia 2-1 over the weekend and currently sit at the top of the Group 4 table ahead of Wednesday's clash with Wales.

Bellamy believes Joachim Low's side are still very strong and realises that it will be difficult to repeat the performance of last year, when Wales played out a goalless draw in Frankfurt in their final Euro 2008 qualifier.

"This is a huge task," said Bellamy. "They got to the World Cup semi-finals, and then the European finals this year.

"People say this is not the best German side but they are doing really well in tournaments and they always seem to qualify with ease. To me, this is a good German side.

"It's a tough one. A lot of our lads played against them last year and got a draw, but maybe the Germans felt that they were already qualified and took their foot off the gas.

"But it was still a fine performance by our lads. We defend deep, allow teams to have the ball in certain areas and work for the counter-attack.

"That is the way we try to go about things. This game will be a classic example of that, we will be under pressure for long spells and when we do break we have to make the most of the opportunities.

"We must cause them problems when we do that."

Highlight

Bellamy, who has been plagued by injuries over the last few months, admits that beating Germany would rank high in his career highlights.

He explained: "When you have been out for a long time your body and your brain do not work as quickly as you would like. When you are trying hard things like that take their toll.

"But I will be doing my best to score against them. If we do get a victory, or even a draw, it will be one of my best Wales moments.

"Beating Italy six years ago will take some beating - the manner of the victory as much as the result, because we played them off the park.

"That was the beginning of a new era for Wales, maybe if we win this one it will start another."