Bellamy row ends in disappointment

Last updated : 07 September 2003 By Martyn Elliott

Bellamy had little chance to get into a game that saw a brave Welsh performance simply not good enough to match the class of the Italians playing at their very best - apart from Inter’s Christian Vieri who produced one of the all time great misses by rounding the keeper before falling over when trying to finish.

Our striker worked hard for the full game and although he may well have been feeling no pain from his knee injury, he certainly wasn’t fully match fit or sharp.

There will though be no repeat of the debate before Wales’ clash with Finland on Wednesday as Bellamy is suspended after picking up a yellow card in Milan - but for once he seemed to be the innocent party.

Christian Panucci tried to break his legs with a tackle before Alessandro Nesta and Gianluigi Buffon pushed him around, looking for a reaction in order to get Bellamy sent off. They got a reaction, but it was from John Hartson which soon shut them up!

But our boy picked up an unjust yellow card and a good thing too if it means he’ll be fit to face Everton on Saturday.