Wales must learn from Bosnia loss in Euros bid – Rush
Wales legend Ian Rush says the national side must learn from their penalty shootout defeat by Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup play-off semi-final as they turn their attention to qualifying for Euro 2028, which will be hosted in the UK and Ireland. Wales are winless in four matches this year and face a demanding Nations League A campaign against Portugal, Norway and Denmark, but Rush believes manager Craig Bellamy, who nearly left for Burnley over the summer, has the ability to guide the team to success.
Wales open their Nations League campaign away to Portugal in Lisbon on 24 September, then Denmark in Copenhagen three days later, before hosting Norway and Denmark at Cardiff City Stadium in October and finishing with trips to Norway and a home game against Portugal in November. Several Welsh players have moved clubs ahead of the new season, including goalkeeper Karl Darlow (Leeds to Manchester United) and Harry Wilson (Fulham to Leeds), while Liverpool's Lewis Koumas is expected to secure another loan move after impressing in pre-season.
- Rush urges Wales to learn from Bosnia play-off defeat before Euro 2028 bid
- Wales face tough Nations League group with Portugal, Norway and Denmark
- Rush backs Bellamy and praises rising stars Koumas and Wilson
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Wales are gearing up for the Nations League after missing out on the 2026 World Cup, having lost a penalty shootout to Bosnia and Herzegovina back in March. That defeat, followed by a run of four winless matches, has left the team looking to rebuild form ahead of qualifying for Euro 2028, a tournament Wales will host.
The upcoming Nations League fixtures matter because they double as early preparation for that home tournament. Wales face three tough away games against Portugal, Norway and Denmark before returning home in October, a schedule seen as a real test of where the squad currently stands.
Ian Rush, one of Wales' most celebrated former players, and Craig Bellamy, the current manager, are central figures in this rebuilding effort. Rush has spoken about learning from the Bosnia setback and has pointed to encouraging signs, such as young players progressing and others moving to bigger clubs, as grounds for cautious optimism about Wales' prospects.