Wales 4 - 1 Norway: Wales up to Speed for World Cup as run of form continues

Wales manager Gary Speed is slightly disappointed his side’s World Cup qualifying campaign does not start now after seeing them make light of the furore over player availability for the Olympics by claiming a handsome 4-1 friendly win over Norway in Cardiff.

The result, courtesy of goals from Gareth Bale, Craig Bellamy and a late Sam Vokes’ double, was Wales’ fourth win in their last five games.

Hopes are high that the Dragons will be able to launch a genuine bid to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil after being drawn in a negotiable Group A which also includes Croatia, Serbia, Belgium, Scotland and Macedonia.

And Speed admits it is a shame those fixtures will not get under way until August. “In terms of momentum [it is a shame they are not starting now],” he said. “I think we will learn a lot from today in terms of how we coped when they came back in the game.”

Wales’ performance was particularly impressive as it came at the end of a week which had seen all the focus placed on star men Bale and Aaron Ramsey following their appearances in promotional images for a Team GB shirt.

And it was Bale who opened the scoring with a fierce volley after 11 minutes for his third goal in consecutive internationals.

Bellamy, left, capped a fine display with a brilliant curling strike from the edge of the area to put Wales 2-0 up after 16 minutes.

The hosts gifted the visitors a way back into the match in the 61st minute. Erik Huseklepp looked to have miscontrolled, but Wayne Hennessey failed to gather the loose ball and it rebounded to the Portsmouth striker for the simplest of finishes.

But the win was secured when Bale and Bellamy again combined brilliantly for the Spurs’ winger to set up Vokes to slide home in the 88th minute. And the striker rounded off the scoring just 60 seconds later.