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London 2012: Team GB will benefit Wales, says Craig Bellamy
Craig Bellamy believes Welsh players representing Great Britain at the Olympics will benefit Wales' bid to qualify for a major tournament.
The Liverpool striker is one of five Welshmen in Team GB's football squad.
Wales have not played at a major finals since the 1958 World Cup.
"As players this will only benefit your Joe Allens, your Aaron Ramseys and your [Neil] Taylors and will give us a better chance of qualifying for major tournaments," Bellamy said.
"I don't know where football's going to take me or don't know where my life's going to take me.
"If I do go into coaching or management and Wales do end up qualifying I've had a tournament experience.
"I'll go into it with the wisdom and knowledge of playing games [in a short space of time] and being away in an environment like this will only benefit my country."
I did Olympic homework says Bellamy
Bellamy, along with Great Britain captain Ryan Giggs, are among the Welsh stars who have never had the opportunity to play in World Cup or European Championship finals.
Chris Coleman's Wales side begin their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign against Belgium at the Cardiff City Stadium on 7 September.
Wales' final friendly before the Belgium game will be against Bosnia-Hercegovina on 15 August - four days after the men's Olympic football final at Wembley.
Should Great Britain reach the final, they will have played a total of six games in 17 days.
Bellamy, who has suffered with knee injuries in the past, is confident he will be able to cope with the punishing schedule of matches, which begin against Senegal at Old Trafford on 26 July.
"I wouldn't be doing this if I couldn't play in a short space of time. I proved it with Cardiff when I was there two years ago," Bellamy said.
"I played a game on a Saturday, a game on a Monday then a game on a Wednesday, especially the last 10 games.
"I've proved I can do that and in the Premier League sometimes, especially last year with Liverpool, it was only one week, one game at a time.
"When I didn't play it wasn't solely because I had anything wrong with me - I wasn't selected for that certain game.
"Physically [I'm] probably in the best shape I've ever been in. I'm in good condition for these games."
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Comment number 43.
ioanteifi19th July 2012 - 22:26
KAAG, Wales is not an independent country but we do enjoy footballing independence if that's what you mean. There is a very real threat as I've explained on numerous occasions throughout this thread. Simply stating otherwise isn't an argument and no; the FAW, the official fans association and I aren't just being argumentative; we recognise that there is a very real threat facing us!
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Comment number 42.
Hendre19th July 2012 - 17:50
I'd hoped to make this comment on the Ramsey thread but it's now closed. My understanding is that most Arsenal supporters think Aaron Ramsey has had a poor season coming back from injury. Never mind David Beckman, is Ramsey really a political choice, not one on merit? He's there And he's being willing to do the bidding of an Olympic paymaster, Adidas?
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Comment number 41.
KickAssAndGiggle19th July 2012 - 16:55
ioanteifi,
Wales is an independent nation.
HOWEVER
There is no threat at all to its long-term football independence because of this tournament.
So you are half right, half wrong. And I am most certainly not naive...I feel you are just being argumentative for no reason.
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Comment number 40.
ioanteifi19th July 2012 - 11:40
@39 At least you recognise that Wales is a nation then; unlike others on this site. The case in football cannot be compared to other sports. There would never be a threat to our independence in rugby because there are only 8-10 good international sides at present. There aren't national teams in golf to merge; once again it cannot be compared. Denying the threat is being naive; it is real!
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Comment number 39.
Sharturse19th July 2012 - 1:42
Personally, I really enjoy it when nations come together in these one off events. I love the Ryder Cup for that, and the British/Irish Lions. Shame there are no Scot/N.I. players though. English people are just as against a permanent GB team as the other nations. If I thought for a moment that this GB team was a threat to England I would not want it, but it isn't.
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Comments 5 of 43