Nations League: Have Wales got what it takes to deliver in League A?

As Bellamy said himself, Wales had to “suffer” for long periods as Portugal dominated possession.

“I thin that’s the longest we’ve been in a game without the ball,” said Bellamy.

“I’m not saying that possession is everything, that’s far from it.

“But the more you’re on the ball, the less you’re defending, so we had to defend a lot. I thought we’d done that very well at times.”

Wales’ 38.5% possession in Lisbon was the lowest they have mustered since the 3-0 loss to England at Wembley nearly a year ago, when they had just 36.4% of the ball.

Naturally, Portugal’s talented squad – worth £1.4bn according to Bellamy – were always going to be the aggressors and dictators of the game.

But there was a hint – even if only out of necessity – that Bellamy and Wales were happy to adapt from the head coach’s usual methods.

“When we played England in the friendly, I thought that was the lesson where you come up against a top team you’re not going to dominate possession,” former Wales striker Nathan Blake told the BBC’s Feast of Football podcast.

“As much as you want to, you’re ranked 38th, they’re ranked fifth for a reason, so give them the respect they’re due and come up with a game plan that they’re not quite ready for.”

While it remains early days, there may well have been a strong influence from new coaches Alan Sheehan and Ashley Williams – who are well versed in focusing on the defensive side of the game.

“Ashley Williams will have an impact defensively, I’m sure of that,” ex-Wales frontman John Hartson said on BBC Match of the Day Wales.

“He has won an awful lot of caps, and he will be well respected by the players.”