Bellamy - Good start vital

Skipper highlights importance of winning start to qualifying run

Last updated: 2nd September 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Bellamy - Good start vital

Bellamy: Targets three points

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Craig Bellamy insists it is imperative Wales get their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign up and running on Friday.

Wales begin their odyssey against Montenegro in Podgorica and John Toshack's side know they need a positive result with the likes of England, Switzerland and Bulgaria also in their pot.

Bellamy admits England are the favourites to top Group G but sees little to choose between the rest and has urged his team-mates to hit the ground running in their opening match.

The 31-year-old forward, who joined hometown Cardiff on loan from Manchester City last month, said: "We have come here to try to win, I believe Montenegro will try to do the same.

Good start

"If either of us have got hopes of trying to do something in this group, tomorrow is vital.

"England - on paper - are superior to all of us but Switzerland were in the World Cup. Bulgaria are one of those teams you don't know what to expect from.

"I believe Wales, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Switzerland can really have an impact in this group.

"Everyone wants to get off to a good start. It isn't over for us if we don't but, realistically, I do believe the way the group is going to pan out we need to have a positive result.

"This is a big game for both of us - a lot rides on tomorrow."

Youth

Wales have undergone a transition in almost six years since Toshack took the reins, with a number of youngsters coming into the side.

They remain a youthful side and 11 of Toshack's 21-man squad for match are aged 25 or under.

Yet of those youngsters, only two have a single-figure number of caps and Bellamy feels all are experienced enough to excel at international level.

Bellamy said: "We have got some decent experience now and it is a good group of boys. We have been building a team.

"For myself I have been ready to try to qualify for some time.

"With the players we do have it is a good opportunity to try to take that next step."