Bellamy’s Hagi pain as Wales boss eyes improvement

Bellamy’s Hagi pain as Wales boss eyes improvementImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Wales will face Romania for the first time since 1993ByIan MitchelmoreBBC Sport Wales, AtBucharest, RomaniaPublished5 June 2026At just 14 years of age, Craig Bellamy was left heartbroken as Romania ended Wales’ dreams of reaching the 1994 World Cup.Little more than three decades on – after his side once again failed to earn themselves a trip across the Atlantic – the former striker has the chance to exact a small amount of revenge on the man who tormented his beloved nation.Gheorghe Hagi – who scored three of Romania’s seven goals against Wales across two matches in 1994 World Cup qualifying – will take charge of the Tricolorii on home soil for the first time in his second stint as manager when his side host Wales in Bucharest on Saturday (18:45 BST).”Hagi has had a huge impression on our country,” mentioned Wales head coach Bellamy.”I first watched him in about 1992-93, Wales were in the group. They beat us 5-1 here [in Bucharest], so I was watching it back at home.”An incredible talent, amazing player. And then they come to Cardiff, he scored quite a lucky goal in that game, we had the most incredible goalkeeper [Neville Southall] but it wasn’t his best moment at that time. “And then they broke our hearts – watching them go to the World Cup and our country not.”Liverpool’s Koumas to prove worth after Wales goal