Haaland was restricted to 24 touches at Cardiff Metropolis Stadium. Anybody who has watched him play will know that isn’t uncommon for the 26-year-old, who can drift out and in of a recreation across the pitch, solely to return alive at key moments within the penalty space.
The extra vital statistic is that he solely had two pictures, with just one on track, a header straight at Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward.
Prevention is best than a remedy, and what Wales did successfully on that event was to chop off the availability of possibilities for Norway’s talismanic frontman.
That was no imply feat contemplating that the Scandinavians’ creator in chief is captain Martin Odegaard, one of many Premier League’s most ingenious playmakers and the person who led Arsenal to the title final season.
So in addition to the defenders tasked with dealing with Haaland and his fellow forwards, Fulham’s Oscar Bobb and Andreas Schjelderup of Benfica, midfielders corresponding to Ethan Ampadu had essential roles to play in negating the attacking affect of Odegaard and his midfield colleagues.
“It’s a must to contemplate the space between Ethan and Haaland,” Bellamy provides. “You possibly can’t open up the center an excessive amount of as a result of balls are going to return into his ft. It’s a must to get your distances proper, be side-on and be sure to’re conscious of his runs.
“He has the power to take a workforce on, however he additionally has the willingness to make these runs.
“It is also necessary how we use the ball. If we use it nicely, develop our possession and transfer up the pitch, he has to work. He has to run and get again.”
Since Bellamy took cost in the summertime of 2024, Wales’ common share of possession in matches has rocketed.
They’ve needed to make do with much less of the ball on this Nations League marketing campaign towards Norway, Portugal and Denmark – and Bellamy believes his aspect may enhance in that regard.
He has stated Wales will likely be going “all out” for victory in Oslo on Saturday and, if they will keep on the entrance foot and make Norway defend, that’s definitely a technique of conserving Haaland out of the sport.
“It’s a must to be on it towards these groups as a result of they’ve many particular person gamers who can create one thing out of nothing,” says Dan James, who scored Wales’ first aim within the 2-1 win.
“Our distances [between players] have been actually good. Odegaard is a singular participant. He’ll get the ball anyplace so it is exhausting as a defence. They need you to leap out and I feel they confirmed that with their aim with the ball for Oscar Bobb and he is completed it nicely.
“We confirmed our resilience and it was about limiting their possibilities and I believed we did that.
“Odegaard performed some nice balls in behind however, to the final minute, we defended very well, not simply the defenders however the entire unit, from the forwards again.
“I believed we defended very well on the day, and we have to be nice once more on Saturday.”
Wales will likely be compelled into at the very least one change in Oslo, with Swansea Metropolis centre-back Ben Cabango – who acquired Haaland’s shirt after the sport in Cardiff – lacking by means of suspension.
The excellent news for Wales is that first-choice centre-back Joe Rodon, who was injured on that event, is out there after returning for Leeds United final weekend.
“Ben Cabango and Ben Davies have each performed very well towards him [Haaland], however the work needs to be performed in entrance of them. If it is not, you expose the defenders,” Bellamy says.
“Towards the sort of participant, it would not matter how good a person defender is. We have seen during the last 4 or 5 years how tough it turns into for one participant to deal with what Haaland brings.”
Taking up Haaland alone isn’t advisable. When you face the problem collectively, nonetheless, as Wales confirmed only a month in the past, you’ll be able to cease the seemingly unstoppable.