Wales lost 2-0 to Denmark in Copenhagen on Sunday, conceding both goals from set pieces, and now sit bottom of their UEFA Nations League group A4 with no goals scored in two matches. The result leaves manager Craig Bellamy hurting.
Denmark took control of the game with two goals in the second half, both arriving from dead-ball situations. Brentford midfielder Mikkel Damsgaard delivered the crosses for both strikes, with Ben Davies turning into his own net shortly after the break and Gustav Isaksen’s deflected strike sealing the win.
“I’m really hurting. When you see an athletic team run over you a little bit…”
Bellamy said afterwards that the result was fair, even as he admitted the loss stung. He told BBC Sport: “For me now it’s just focus, two more games to go. How can I help you improve for the next two games, but also how can I improve?”
The Set-Piece Goals
Denmark dominated the game throughout, and Wales were second best in every phase. The visitors could have fallen behind earlier in the first half, with Damsgaard striking the post from range moments after Isaksen had a volley ruled out by VAR for a marginal offside on Rasmus Hojlund in the build-up.
The first goal arrived in the 53rd minute. Damsgaard’s free-kick found Davies, who turned it into his own net. The second came 13 minutes later, with Isaksen’s strike deflecting past the keeper.
The match report notes that the only negative for Denmark was an injury to Manchester United’s Patrick Dorgu, who was forced off after 30 minutes and headed straight down the tunnel.
What Happened in Copenhagen
The game followed a familiar pattern for Wales. They battled to a 1-0 defeat against Portugal in Lisbon on Thursday, but that result looked generous in comparison to this one.
Wales have failed to register a single goal or point in their first two games, and they face an uphill battle if they are to avoid relegation from this group. The quality gap was visible for all to see, though the margin was narrow.
Denmark themselves were under pressure after being beaten by Norway on Thursday, and there was turmoil in the camp after captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg openly questioned the team’s tactics. But they responded strongly in this match, rising to the occasion and looking comfortable throughout.
The Key Moments
The match was defined by several key moments:
| Minute | Event |
|---|---|
| 24 | DENMARK GOAL RULED OUT BY VAR! Isaksen’s volley is chalked off for a marginal offside on Hojlund. |
| 27 | OFF THE POST! Damsgaard rattles a shot off the frame of the goal for Denmark. |
| 30 | INJURY! Dorgu forced off with an apparent injury problem. |
| 43 | VITAL SAVE! Filip Jorgensen produces a big hand to keep out Connor Roberts’ close-range effort. |
| 53 | GOAL! Denmark lead through a Davies own-goal after Damsgaard’s free-kick. |
| 66 | GOAL! Denmark double their lead through Isaksen’s deflected strike at another set piece. |
What Bellamy Said
Bellamy acknowledged the scale of the defeat while remaining optimistic about the future. He said the team would get better and that young players were coming through.
He also noted that he is more loving when he loses and more demanding when he wins. “I’m probably more loving when I’m losing, I’m probably more of a pain in the backside when I’m winning,” he said.
Before the game, Bellamy warned his players that it would be tougher than the Portugal match. “It was a different challenge, but a very difficult one. The best team won overall,” he said.
He also praised the commitment of his squad. “How the players put their bodies on the line was brilliant. They are really special for that. I really admire that, but I want more,” he added.
The Players React
Wales midfielder Ethan Ampadu spoke to BBC Sport after the match. He described it as a disappointing night for the team.
“Disappointing night for us. Always going to be difficult against a top team away from home. But we didn’t really put in our levels. We gave everything we could,” he said.
He identified the problem as a lack of composure in transitions. “We could have been tidier on the ball, especially in transitions. We didn’t create enough to score today,” he said.
The set-pieces proved costly. “Frustrating to concede [both goals from set pieces]. We pride ourselves on being difficult to beat on set pieces and work so hard on it. We just didn’t defend well enough today at set pieces,” he said.
What Comes Next
Wales face Norway and Erling Haaland in their third Nations League match on Thursday. Norway were beaten 2-1 by Portugal in Oslo later on Sunday.
The stakes are high. With no goals and no points from two games, Wales need results fast. The quality gap was visible for all to see, and that is the reality Wales must confront now.
The result was fair, according to Bellamy. But fairness is small comfort when the team is bottom of the group.
The question now is whether Wales can respond. Bellamy believes they will, but the evidence so far has not matched his confidence. The next two games will settle the matter.
Source material: “Bellamy 'hurting' after Denmark beat Wales comfortably,” Sky Sports.
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