00:00For Wales, their unbeaten run in international football came to an end in dramatic fashion
00:07as they were beaten 4-3 by Belgium in Brussels on Monday evening.
00:12Wales had gone 3-0 down early in the game and yet managed to get themselves back to a level footing,
00:20drawing 3-3 with Belgium.
00:22But then Kevin De Bruyne struck towards the end of the game to break Welsh hearts.
00:27However, the Welsh team still are in a strong position in their World Cup qualifying group.
00:31And before that, they had beaten Liechtenstein 3-0.
00:35And as I say as well, Wales have been on this long unbeaten run under Craig Bellamy.
00:39So things are still looking rosy in the Wales camp despite that late loss to Belgium.
00:45But what impact will that have on Wales going forward in this World Cup qualifying group?
00:49Because of course, they want to make successive World Cups that they've qualified for.
00:53And as I say, they are still in a strong position.
00:55But, well, you'd hope at least that this result against Belgium wouldn't affect them too much.
01:01And I think they have to draw the positives of the fact that they managed to get the game back to 3-3
01:06and perhaps ignore the fact that they went 3-0 down in the game and also ended up losing late on.
01:12But let's go now to Charles Hague-Jones, our Wales sport correspondent.
01:16Charles, obviously frustration for Wales and disappointment of losing so late on.
01:20But there's a lot of positives to take in that game.
01:23But also, what can they learn from the negatives of going down early 3-0 and losing late on as well?
01:29Yes, so the streak of Craig Bellamy has come to an end as well as boss.
01:37Now, you know, there's so many factors that go into it.
01:40Obviously, there was some testing games in there as well.
01:42But, you know, Wales unbeaten in, you know, 10 games, his first loss is pretty incredible, really.
01:48For, you know, a nation that had really suffered under the last few managers,
01:53Bellamy came in and has just instilled this belief, this whole feel of rejuvenation around the nation.
01:59So it's so, so impressive to do that, especially as a former player as well.
02:03He's showing he knows what it means to wear the shirt.
02:06He's trying to instill that to his group of players and really ensure that they know how important it is
02:10to represent Wales with the best of your ability, to give it your all.
02:13Obviously, with modern football and the fixture schedules, it's so tough to, you know,
02:18really, really go on from the long, long seasons they have now domestically
02:22and then go to national football with that same pride.
02:25But Wales are a nation where that's, you know, no debate.
02:29Every player needs to give it their all and really make sure that they are there
02:32and representing their team.
02:34And, you know, 10 games in charge, his first defeat, 4-3.
02:40You know, it wasn't just a loss as well.
02:42It was a bit of a statement of progress, obviously going 3-0 down.
02:46After 27 minutes, you thought, oh, no, this is the Wales of old.
02:50This is the Wales that had been so cowardly at a major tournament
02:53and really fallen short and disappointed.
02:56But then a tactical change, a tactical switch up.
02:59You know, the likes of Brennan Johnson, Harry Wilson, both scoring as well.
03:03Sober Thomas got his first goal as well.
03:06And that was a massive moment for him.
03:07I mean, they drew the scores level before Kevin De Bruyne scored to finally, you know,
03:12break Welsh hearts in Brussels.
03:15But in terms of the game, I mean, it was a fantastic outfit, seven-goal thriller.
03:20And Bellamy came out and said, you know, it's not how you lose.
03:22You know, he's beyond proud of his group.
03:26He's got to reflect on a culture shift from sort of survival to belief.
03:30It's a massive process.
03:31It's a huge sort of building block that Bellamy and his group of players are going under.
03:36So to come away and, you know, level the tie at 3-3, you thought, wow, this is an incredible fight back.
03:42And it did just show a bit of a look into the optimism, the belief, the talent throughout this Wales side.
03:50You know, Sober Thomas obviously getting his debut goal.
03:52He said, you know, we showed the Welsh fire and we had it in our own hands at one point as well.
03:57You know, Belgium, a top eight nation in the world, that they're going to be assured
04:01in the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, who sealed that as just a top, top world-class player,
04:05has been for the next, you know, 10 years or so.
04:09And you've got to look towards the future and what's next for Bellamy and this group.
04:13Obviously, the qualification, it puts them, you know, near the top two points, I believe.
04:18Split them with others having a game in hand.
04:21They've got that massive return fixture against Belgium in October in Cardiff.
04:25Yes, his streak's over, but, you know, optimism hasn't left Wales at all.
04:31I mean, the character that they have is unbelievable.
04:34You know, minor setbacks, I think, and major comebacks is the way this side is going
04:40into Bellamy and long may continue.
04:42Okay.
04:43You know, let's see.
04:43Let's see.
04:44You know, we've got this guy in the middle of the street.
04:45Yeah.
04:45Here we go.
04:46You know, here is a place where you can get your interest in the state of the country.
04:47If you can get your interest in the country, you can get your interest in the country.
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