The China Mail - Wales would be 'massive asset' to World Cup, says Bellamy

Bellamy's side host Bosnia and Herzegovina in Cardiff on Thursday and, should they win, would also have home advantage against Italy or Northern Ireland in the play-off final on Tuesday.

The 46-year-old failed to reach a major tournament during his illustrious playing career, but Wales have since regularly qualified.

After reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2016, they also made the knockout stages at Euro 2020 and qualified for a first World Cup since 1958 by reaching Qatar four years ago.

"I honestly feel we should be at this tournament," said the former Liverpool striker.

"Now we're going to have to work hard to get there, but I honestly believe we'll be a massive asset to this World Cup. Our players will be, our fans will be and our coaching team will be. We'll add to this."

Wales are ranked 35th in FIFA rankings, 36 places higher than Bosnia, but have not beaten the Balkan nation in four previous attempts.

Bosnia were 13 minutes from qualifying automatically before conceding a late equaliser to Austria in November.

The build-up to the game for the visitors has been dominated by an accusation from Bosnia boss Sergej Barbarez that Brondby midfielder Benjamin Tahirovic had been dropped by his Welsh club boss Steve Cooper to help his homeland.

Tahirovic subsequently apologised to Cooper, while Brondby sporting director Benjamin Schmedes contacted Barbarez to explain the move to drop the midfielder was a club decision.

But Barbarez insisted at his pre-match press conference that he had nothing to apologise for.

"I had the idea to protect the player," he said. "That's where all this talking was from."

C.Mak--ThChM