Wales are hurting after being outclassed 2-0 by Denmark in Copenhagen, and their head coach Craig Bellamy knows exactly how that feels.
An own goal from Ben Davies and a strike from Gustav Isaksen gave Brian Riemer’s side a comfortable win at Parken Stadium. The result leaves Bellamy’s team winless in six matches in 2026, and without a point from their away double-header with Portugal and the Danes.
What Happened in Copenhagen
Denmark took control from the start. Mikkel Damsgaard fired against the post shortly after Isaksen had a goal ruled out for offside. Wales improved after the opening half-hour, but the damage was done through two set-pieces.
Bellamy admitted the result was fair, even as he spoke of the hurt. “I’m really hurting,” he said. “When you see an athletic team run over you a little bit… but then, will we improve? I think we will.”
He added: “This team will get better, these players will keep improving. There are young ones coming in well after I’m gone. For me now it’s just focus, two more games to go.”
Davies on the Set-Piece Pain
Davies, who captains the side, acknowledged the scale of the lesson. “It was a tough game,” he told BBC Match of the Day Wales. “They are a good team and made it a hard game for us.”
He pointed directly at the manner of the goals. “It was really frustrating to concede from two set-pieces. The Nations League games are against the best teams in Europe, it was always going to be tough.”
“If you’re not at 100% then you are going to get punished at this level,” he said. “We have to regroup and go again on Thursday.”
Thomas Looks Ahead
Winger Sorba Thomas shared Bellamy’s optimism about improvement. “Thankfully we’ve got two games at home still to come,” he told BBC Match of the Day Wales. “We’ll have home advantage so we need to show a reaction.”
“We are just going to get better,” he said. “We are a small nation but we’ve got big hearts and beliefs and for us it’s about showing that more on the pitch.”
The Numbers Behind the Defeat
- Score: Denmark 2-0 Wales
- Goals: Own goal from Ben Davies, Gustav Isaksen
- Own goal: Ben Davies
- Disallowed goal: Gustav Isaksen (offside)
- Shots against the post: Mikkel Damsgaard
- Loss count: Six straight losses in 2026
- Home record: Two remaining games at Cardiff City Stadium
- Next fixture: Norway on Thursday, 1 October
The Run of Results
Wales are winless in six matches in 2026. Their previous fixture saw a 1-0 defeat in Lisbon against Portugal.
| Fixture | Date |
|---|---|
| Denmark vs Wales | 26 September |
| Wales vs Portugal | 23 September |
| Wales vs Norway | 1 October |
| Wales vs Denmark | 4 October |
The next two games are at Cardiff City Stadium, with Norway visiting on Thursday, 1 October, followed by a rematch with Denmark on Sunday, 4 October.
The Bottom Line
Bellamy’s honesty stands out. He said he is “probably more loving when I’m losing, I’m probably more of a pain in the backside when I’m winning.”
The defeat in Copenhagen was deserved. Denmark were the better team, and Bellamy admitted as much. “As disappointed as I am with that, the result I probably think was fair,” he said.
The path back starts at Cardiff. Home advantage against Norway, then a second chance against the Danes. Wales will need to show more than belief to turn things around.
Source material: “Bellamy 'hurting' as Denmark outclass Wales,” Yahoo Sports.
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