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The quest for flawlessness can absorb certain athletes. While they intellectually grasp that achieving perfection is impossible, the effort to reach that ideal may elevate them to remarkable levels.
Craig Bellamy exemplifies this. He questions whether perfection exists in any person or thing, yet on Tuesday evening, he witnessed his Wales team nearly attain it when they overwhelmed North Macedonia with a score of 7-1.
The outcome was significant, granting Wales the win they needed to secure second place in their World Cup qualifying group and earn home-field advantage for their play-off semi-final scheduled for March.
The quality of play painted a different picture, presenting a breathtaking blend of vibrant, aggressive football executed at an exhilarating pace, coupled with a fierce physicality off the ball that left their adversaries reeling.
Before arriving at Cardiff City Stadium, North Macedonia had let in just three goals across seven qualifiers. However, within 19 minutes of the first half, they saw that total doubled, ultimately facing humiliation in the Welsh capital.
“I am not perfect, nor have I met anyone who is,” stated Bellamy.
“Yet I might slightly amend that because what I witnessed was as close to a perfect performance as I have ever seen. It was astonishing.
“The way we utilized the ball and our sense of timing was exceptional. We played without a traditional forward, opting instead for three playmakers. They positioned themselves to pull defenders away, allowing runners to exploit the space, while our wide players were also deeply involved.
“We were impeccably precise with the ball, which opened up numerous scoring opportunities. It was one of those matches where we capitalized on our chances.”
Initially, this encounter promised to be a tense affair, with Wales expecting a challenging contest against a North Macedonia team that had not allowed a single away goal in this campaign and only required a draw to maintain second place.
Instead, it transformed into a match devoid of tension, as Wales dominated their rivals, creating a festive atmosphere in Cardiff City Stadium.
This display represented the culmination of everything Bellamy has aimed to establish in the team since he took the helm last year: incessant pressing without possession and, with it, nimble attacking movements along with a singular focus on offense.
This moment realized Bellamy's aspirations for the Welsh team.
“I know North Macedonia will feel the sting of this match, yet they have shown remarkable performance in the group,” Bellamy remarked.
“I do believe they were fortunate in a few games, and I sensed there was a team poised to take advantage, and I thought it could be us.”
Moreover, Wales' impressive win against North Macedonia will act as a cautionary message to their potential rivals in the upcoming play-offs.
Wales will be placed in pot two during the draw in Zurich on Thursday, positioning them to host one of the teams from pot three – either Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, or the Republic of Ireland – in their semi-final clash.
The advantage of playing at home for the final – which, similar to the semi-finals, will take place in a single match – will be determined during the same draw.
Since the inception of this format, Wales has hosted all four of their play-off semi-finals and finals for the World Cup and European Championship in Cardiff, achieving victory in three of them.
The two matches they are anticipating next March are expected to be the most crucial of Bellamy's time in charge.
In their match against North Macedonia, his team demonstrated their ability to rise to the occasion in a remarkable manner.
"It's extremely important for us when we play at home. Tonight was about as close to perfect as I could wish for," Bellamy remarked following his team's performance.
"Nonetheless, caution is necessary when facing these teams, and I am aware that we’re in pot two. The squads in pot three will likely resemble the challenge we encountered tonight.
"But for now, I will savor this evening – a truly outstanding performance."
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