Baxter has no regrets despite the blast from Bellamy before Finnish success.

FINLAND'S English manager Stuart Baxter told his players before the World Cup qualifier that Craig Bellamy had talked about "two poor sides" after Finland had won 2-0 against Wales in Cardiff.

"I don't think we'll be needing to add to the motivation," said Baxter. But after his team's 2-1 win in the return leg on Saturday he revealed: "Craig had a bit of a pop at me in the tunnel before the teams went out, which I can't understand because I don't think I've done anything.

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"I was interviewed in the build-up when someone asked me about what I thought about what he had said in Cardiff and I replied that we should take it with a pinch of salt.

"But I did say that I won't have to work hard to motivate the players and that they would be up for this one.

"Some of my players took a bit of offence at it, with him saying they were mediocre. They think they are not.

"I don't think that's out of order in any way, shape or form.

"I could have said something far stronger and harder than that.

"I could have said, 'Forget what he says, because he's a bit of a crackpot.' "But I didn't. I think I showed him a bit of respect that he maybe didn't deserve.

But I'm happy because I've done my job. "Things are said after matches. I didn't think about it much, but a lot of Finns did.

"We were really up for it today and we really wanted to win - not because of any comments, though.

"This is a good day for Finnish football and our future.

"Third place is secured, and we were able to give a few of our younger players some international experience and we are ready to go to Germany."