Craig Bellamy lauded Wales' exceptional performance following their decisive 7-1 victory against North Macedonia, which secured them a home advantage in the World Cup play-off semi-final. The win, achieved on Tuesday night at Cardiff City Stadium, was crucial for Wales to clinch second place in Group J.

Bellamy described the display as "close to the perfect performance," highlighting the team's fluency in attack and clinical finishing. He admitted that he was impressed with the players. According to Bellamy, he told the players to enjoy the game, and that their style of play could give them an advantage. He further added that the way the team used the ball and their timing was great. Also, he spoke about the cleanliness of the ball which allowed them to have good chances.

Harry Wilson, who captained Wales for the first time due to injuries to Aaron Ramsey and Ben Davies and the suspension of Ethan Ampadu, celebrated the occasion by scoring a hat-trick. This made him the first player to score a hat-trick for Wales since Gareth Bale in September 2021. David Brooks, Brennan Johnson, Daniel James, and Nathan Broadhead contributed the other goals in a rampant display. This marked the first time Wales had scored seven goals in a match since 1978, when they beat Malta 7-0 in a European Championship qualifier.

Wales had already secured a play-off spot due to their UEFA Nations League performance, but the victory over North Macedonia guaranteed them a home semi-final and a potentially favorable draw. They will now host either the Republic of Ireland, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, or Kosovo in the play-offs in March.

Bellamy praised Wilson's leadership, both on and off the pitch. Reflecting on the squad's composition, Bellamy noted the absence of key players like Jordan James and Ethan Ampadu due to suspension but commended the team's collective effort and the emergence of players who stepped up to fill the void. He said that having something riding on the game brought focus and intensity, and he emphasized the importance of the home support. He acknowledged North Macedonia's defensive capabilities and threat on the counter-attack, urging the fans to lift the team in crucial moments.