00:00Now, Craig Bellamy's appointment as Wales manager has brought renewed optimism and higher
00:07expectations. His technical approach and passion are already having an impact as Wales build
00:13towards future tournaments. The importance of tournament experience can't be overstated
00:19and players like Ben Davies are central to this. As one of the most experienced players
00:24in the squad, Davies' leadership and ability to handle the pressure of major tournaments
00:29are vital. He'll play a crucial role in mentoring the younger players and helping them develop
00:34the winning mentality that Bellamy wants. Many current squad members lack major tournament
00:40experience and Bellamy's challenge will be to cultivate that. Tournament experience is
00:45crucial for both individual players and squad cohesion and with Davies' guidance, Wales
00:51are shaping up for a bright future.
00:56Just on Ben Davies particularly, he's obviously the most experienced in the side. He wouldn't
01:02matter the match in the first game against Kazakhstan as well, obviously with a goal
01:06in there as well and an assist. He's been absolutely fantastic. I mean, a great servant
01:11and also, interestingly, the only remaining player from 2013 when Bellamy actually played
01:17his last game as a player. So, quite incredible to see his rise and his tournament experience
01:24has got to be so valuable to this Wales squad. It's obviously quite a young bunch of players
01:29as well. So, just a bit on Ben Davies and his impact on this side.
01:33Yes, he's the level head. He's the leader at the back and often quiet. He's maybe not
01:41your typical leader in that sense, but when he speaks, people listen. He leads by example
01:46on the pitch and he's an achievable and recognisable role model for these players because, like
01:52we said, yes, you can talk about Ramsey and you can talk about Allen, you can talk about
01:55Bale from that 2016 squad, but Ben Davies has been there and done it himself. He was
02:02a key part of that 2016 team. Obviously, his block against Slovakia in the opening match
02:07that is so crucial in Welsh folklore. The whole tournament probably doesn't happen or
02:11unfold the way it did if Ben Davies doesn't make that huge block in the opening minutes
02:15against Slovakia in our 2016 opener. And he's a player who is playing at the top level still.
02:21I know Tottenham might not be the highest level in world football, but he's still got
02:25an incredible CV. He's got so much experience under his belt and he's a player who everyone
02:32else can look up to really. And I think from Bellamy's point of view, he's one of those
02:37few players that is really reliable, a constant in the squad. There's others who are maybe
02:43a bit more erratic in their form, players who are less predictable of what you're going
02:49But what you do and can be assured of from Ben Davies is you do get that stereotypical
02:53sort of 7 out of 10 every single game that he plays. And that is so crucial in international
02:58football. And so too is that experience because when it comes down to the nitty-gritty, if
03:02it comes down to another playoff campaign, he's done it. He's been at the European Championships
03:08twice. He's been at the World Cup. And that's huge because it proves it can be done. And in
03:15those moments of doubt where Wales in the past were never able to get over the line,
03:19there is now a track record of doing so. And as a player still in their squad, his system,
03:23the style of play he wants to enforce, and quite a few changes as well to his lineups.
03:29But ultimately, he's got to work with what he's got. And I think this World's team doesn't have
03:35maybe that star quality that the last couple of teams have had, with Ramsey and Bale at their
03:41peak, really, particularly in 2016, and even qualifying for the last World Cup. It was Bale's
03:46magic moments that got them over the line. And you still look at the Wales squad now and you
03:50wonder who is that player who's going to step up and do it? Obviously, we saw Brooks do so
03:55against Macedonia, Kiefer Moore with a fantastic assist. But Brooks and Brennan Johnson, they can't
04:03both play 90 minutes every single match. And they are the two players with probably the most
04:08technical ability. Harry Wilson's had a good season as well at Fulham. But who is actually
04:12going to step up now? There is a platform, there's an opening for another player to become the
04:17catalyst of this team. And maybe it works better the other way that Wales aren't as much of a
04:22sort of one-man team now. I know they were more a collective before anyway, and Bale was just the
04:28icing on top who made things happen. But there is an opening there. While I think there's a bit more
04:34team cohesion and the overall levels may be increased, I still think Wales are just missing
04:39that player in their prime who can win games and secure results on their own.
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