By Gareth James
Ben Davies believes Wales can challenge the best with promotion to the top tier of the Nations League in their sights.
Only Germany, with 17, have created more big chances in the competition than Wales’ 13 heading into the final round of fixtures.
“It was a valiant fight in the end, but not quite enough.”
Ben Davies reflects on defeat in Turkey ️ pic.twitter.com/0EZZs1mawg
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 7, 2024
New manager Craig Bellamy’s determination to turn Wales into a possession-based unit is also working with England, Austria, Netherlands and Portugal the only teams to have a greater share of the ball than the Dragons’ 58.5 per cent from their four Nations League games.
“It’s nice to see that stuff because for a long time Wales have been prided on being a pretty defensive counter-attacking team,” said Tottenham defender Davies ahead of Wales’ showdown against Group B4 leaders Turkey.
“It shows we’ve got multiple ways of attacking and we’re starting to play on the front foot.
“We’re creating chances clearly and we can be a threat whoever we play against.
“When we played Turkey at home the talk was about playing on the break, but we had a lot of the ball and on another day we could have scored a couple that way.
“Brennan (Johnson) and Harry (Wilson) are dangerous players in whatever system we need.
“That’s what I’m enjoying, we’re showing we can be adaptable both ways and it’s exciting times.”
Bellamy has become the first Wales manager to be unbeaten in his opening four matches, winning two and drawing two since succeeding the sacked Rob Page in July.
Wales will secure promotion to League A by winning their final two games, against Turkey in Kayseri on Saturday and at home to Iceland three days later.
That would provide a huge boost before December’s 2026 World Cup draw and the start of the qualifying campaign next year.
“When you actually look at it we have three or four weeks together before that campaign, so there’s not a lot of time to get things put in place,” Davies said at a McDonald’s Fun Football Day session at Cheshunt.
“But we’ve got a lot of players playing well and really standing up when we need them to.
“We’ve got two big games coming up now. We’ll have another good camp and then give it a real go in qualifying.”
Davies made his 90th appearance against Montenegro last month and is now the fifth most capped Wales men’s player after Gareth Bale, Chris Gunter, Wayne Hennessey and Neville Southall.
Ben Davies . . . Still Here, Still Fighting For Wales To Reach Fourth Finals Out Of Five
The 31-year-old is closing on Bale’s 111-cap record and, fitness permitting, should reach three figures next year.
“The record is not a target for me, but I do want to get to 100 caps,” said Davies, who will continue to captain Wales in the absence of the injured Aaron Ramsey.
“That would be an incredible, especially Wales being a nation that historically hasn’t qualified for many tournaments.
“Some nations are able to churn caps out, but you’ve seen our dedication to get there with Gaz (Bale), Wayne and Gunts (Gunter).
“It’s a big milestone and I would love to get there. It’s always an honour and so much fun to go away with Wales.”
:: Ben Davies was celebrating the latest free wave of McDonald’s Fun Football sessions this autumn, available to all children aged 5-11 across Wales. Sign up now for your nearest free session at mcdonalds.co.uk/football.
