Craig Bellamy says Wales must defend against Erling Haaland as a team when they face Norway on Saturday, with both sides needing victory to keep their Nations League quarter-final hopes alive.
Wales are third in Group A4 and Norway are fourth, while Bellamy’s side have lost three of their four matches so far. Their only victory came in the reverse fixture against Norway, when Wales won 2-1 after Torbjorn Heggem was shown a straight red card at the start of the second half.
Haaland was kept quiet in that game, managing only two shots and 23 touches. That was the second-lowest total among Norway’s starting players.
However, the Manchester City striker remains the leading scorer in Nations League history, with 22 goals in 20 appearances. He has scored seven more than any other player in the competition and has the best conversion rate among the 20 players to have taken at least 50 shots, finding the net with 26.5% of his attempts.
Bellamy knows preventing Haaland from scoring in consecutive meetings will be a difficult task.
“It’s easier said than done. You can’t have him dictating the game,” Wales manager Bellamy said.
“That’s true of all players, really, but it’s much harder when someone is getting in your face and stopping you from having time on the ball.
“It’s a collective responsibility, not just an individual one. You have to consider the distance between Ethan [Ampadu, midfielder] and Haaland.
“You can’t open up the middle too much because balls are going to come into his feet. You have to get your distances right, be side-on, and make sure you’re aware of his runs.
“He has the ability to take a team on, but he also has the willingness to make those runs.”
Bellamy also believes Wales’ use of possession will be important in limiting Haaland’s influence.
“If we use it well, develop our possession and move up the pitch, he has to work. He has to run and get back,” he added.
Wales have never won away to Norway in five attempts, drawing two and losing three. Saturday’s match will be their first visit there since a 0-0 friendly draw in May 2004, when Bellamy played for Wales.
Norway lost only one of their first nine meetings with Wales, winning four and drawing four. They have since suffered three consecutive defeats against them, conceding nine goals in that run compared with eight across their opening nine matches.
