Bellamy feels all the ingredients are there for an upset in Bergamo and maintained that, with a collision course between the sides on the cards, he won’t take Northern Ireland lightly if Wales do lock horns with them in the high-stakes Play-Off Final.
Wales take on Bosnia and Herzegovina in the other Semi-Final and Bellamy pointed to Northern Ireland’s comfort without the ball as a reason why they can upset the odds.
“Don’t write them off. Everyone thinks it will be Italy we’ll have to play if we beat Bosnia, but if there’s one team that’s happy not to have the ball, it’s them,” he said.
“I think they’re ranked around 48th of 54 teams in Europe with the least possession. They know where they’re going and were the one team I didn’t want to play.
“Everyone’s writing them off but I’m telling you now, watch out for that result. It’s not going to be straightforward.”
Wales manager Craig Bellamy believes Northern Ireland have what it takes to overcome Italy
Bellamy has total respect for O’Neill, who is three years into his second stint as Northern Ireland boss having been appointed in December 2022, and believes he will have his side braced for a stern Italian challenge.
“Down the years, they’ve just had something and they know what they are. They’ve got a brilliant manager who I really like,” he added.
“I was lucky enough to spend a bit of time with him as well and I loved him. No wonder his players do as well.
“They won’t be playing at their home ground, but I just feel they’ll be comfortable in any situation you throw them into.”
Gennaro Gattuso’s Italy are under added pressure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup
The former Wales striker, who netted 19 goals in 78 caps between 1998 and 2013, also says Northern Ireland can make life difficult for Gennaro Gattuso’s under-pressure Italy side, who have missed out on each of the previous two World Cup Finals.
“There will be pressure coming on Italy because they haven’t qualified for two World Cups,” Bellamy said.
“If I was Italy going into that game, with everyone expecting you to win, I’m telling you I’d be edgy. I wouldn’t be comfortable with it.
“Italy is one of the greatest nations in football and that’s a lot of responsibility to shoulder.
“To have to play a team like Northern Ireland, I’d just be thinking, ‘Let’s get through this and see what happens in the other game’.