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Craig Bellamy, the former Liverpool and Premier League player, has taken issue with Jesse Marsch's premature celebrations during their friendly match in Swansea, expressing his desire for a rematch at the World Cup next year.
A powerful 25-yard free-kick from Derek Cornelius just four minutes before half-time secured a 1-0 victory for Marsch's Canada, marking only the second defeat in Bellamy's 12-game tenure and his first on home soil. However, Bellamy, who recently made a demand to Ryan Reynolds' Wrexham, was less than pleased with former Leeds boss Marsch's conduct during stoppage time as Wales were still vying for a draw against the co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup.
"I still wanted to win, trust me," Bellamy said after selecting a side showing eight changes from the 1-0 World Cup qualifying victory in Kazakhstan on Thursday.
"Honestly, I'm actually not happy because I really hate losing more than I like winning.
"I see him (Marsch) celebrating at the end. I'm thinking, 'I hope I see you at the World Cup. I hope I see you again.' But I have to also be gracious. Jesse was shaking his coaches' hands before the final whistle. I have to get used to that."
Bellamy gave three players their debut, including Cardiff teenager Ronan Kpakio who started at right-back.
Midfielders Joel Colwill and Kai Andrews also made their first appearances off the bench.
"I don't do excuses," he said. "I don't talk about process. I'm in the here and now, I want to win. But we had debuts, it was Charlie Crew's first start, and we had one or two fringe players.
"I needed to see the squad and what they picked up with us. Can they play our way? I (was) very impressed with that.
"But that speed of securing balls and seeing pressure, coming up with the ball, some of our boys have never been exposed to that."
Wales is set for another friendly game next month, facing England at Wembley on October 9, before a crucial World Cup qualifier against Belgium at home just four days later.
Bellamy's players must secure victory in this Cardiff showdown if they are to top their World Cup group and avoid the playoffs in March.
He said: "We need to play top teams because of the speed, the transition, all these moments, the physicality. We have to move the ball quicker, we have to make decisions quicker. That's what I believe top players are able to do and on a consistent basis."
Following the team's 3-0 triumph in Romania with another win, Marsch commented: "Wales did a good job with a mixed line-up of putting some plays together, challenging our pressing.
"Our team never got frustrated. We bent but didn't break, and it was a really good defensive performance in general to get two clean sheets."
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