Bellamy proud to make Croke mark

Craig Bellamy is excited to be playing at Croke Park

Group D: Rep of Ire v Wales
Date: Saturday 24 March
Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Venue: Croke Park
Coverage: Live on BBC Radio Wales, updates on the BBC Sport website

Craig Bellamy says it will be an honour to be part of football's Croke Park debut when Wales face the Republic of Ireland in Saturday's Euro qualifier.

"I've been over to Croke Park a couple of times, I watched a Gaelic game over there and I watched the (Six Nations) rugby game against England," he said.

"I know the history and a lot of us as Welsh players realise how important it is to be playing football there.

"Ireland will try to use that to their advantage but it'll be special for us."

Interview: Wales boss John Toshack

Croke Park is the headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association and the heart of Ireland's most popular sports, Gaelic football and hurling.

This is a very tough group... we've got to start picking up points. Craig Bellamy

It was a momentus decision for the GAA to open up Croke Park to the 'foreign' sports of football and rugby union while Lansdowne Road is redeveloped.

Croke staged its first rugby game on 11 February when Ireland lost to France.

When Steve Staunton's Republic side face Wales on Saturday it will be the turn of football to make its debut at 'Croker'.

But Liverpool striker Bellamy says it will be the pressure to get points, rather than the long history, that is more likely to weigh down on both sets of players.

Both the Republic and Wales have had lacklustre starts to their Group D campaigns, with the hosts claiming seven points from their five games and Wales three points from three games.

"I come over to Ireland quite a lot and the media are giving Ireland a little bit of stick at the moment so I'm sure they want a good result," Bellamy said.

"But we're not the greatest either at the moment and we need three points before we go to play San Marino the following Wednesday.

"This is a very tough group and we've still got to play Germany twice, so we've got to start picking up points."