Craig Bellamy targets improvement as Wales look to end away friendly drought

Wales manager Craig Bellamy is looking to steer his side toward a much-needed victory in Saturday's friendly against Romania. For Bellamy, the match carries a touch of nostalgia, as he faces the man who once broke his heart as a schoolboy: Romanian icon Gheorghe Hagi, who led the charge against Wales during the 1994 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Reflecting on Hagi's impact, Bellamy remarked: "Hagi has had a huge impression on our country. I first watched him in about 1992-93. An incredible talent, amazing player." Now, the former striker is focused on the present, specifically addressing Wales' dismal record in away friendlies. The national team has not won an away friendly fixture since November 2008—a streak the current manager is determined to snap.

"Our friendlies are not great when you look at the records. If we want to create expectations, to put demands on ourselves and the public as well, we have to have a better record than what we have," Bellamy explained. The upcoming clash in Bucharest serves as a final opportunity to build momentum before Wales begins its challenging Nations League A campaign later this year.

Midfielder Ethan Ampadu noted that the June camp has been crucial for raising performance standards and learning from past errors. While the team builds for the future, they will be without defender Dylan Lawlor, who is sidelined with a knee injury sustained against Ghana. However, Ben Davies and Connor Roberts have been confirmed as available for the Romania test, providing a boost to the squad's defensive options.