Wales snapped a six-game winless run with a 2-1 victory over Norway on Thursday, and captain Ben Davies says the team is determined to prove it can thrive at the top level of international football.
The win came in Cardiff, where Wales chased down a Norwegian lead to secure the result. It was the nation’s first-ever victory in the Nations League’s top tier, and Davies says the performance showed the squad belongs alongside the best teams in Europe.
“We don’t want to be in a situation where you feel like you’re not competing against bigger teams,” Davies said. “But I thought we laid a good marker down the other night [against Norway] to show that we do belong playing against these teams.”
The Norway win sets the stage
Norway took the lead before Wales fought back to win 2-1. The result ended a run of results that stretched back to last November, when Wales beat North Macedonia.
The sequence included a defeat against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the World Cup play-off semi-final, followed by friendly draws against Northern Ireland and Ghana. Then came successive defeats to Romania, Portugal and the Danes.
That run put pressure on the squad ahead of the Norway match, but the response was a rousing display. Davies noted that the performance was better across the board than recent outings.
“I think we really got back to what’s got us to success and got us into the Nations League A in the first place,” Davies said. “Hopefully we can replicate that [against Denmark].”
The Cardiff crowd matters
Wales will host Denmark at Cardiff City Stadium on Sunday, with the match kicking off at 19:45 BST. The game is live on BBC iPlayer, BBC Two Wales, BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and 5 Live, plus the BBC Sport website and app.
Davies believes the home crowd will be a key factor against a Danish side ranked 21st in the Fifa rankings, 17 places above Wales.
“It does make a big difference going away,” Davies said. “We didn’t get a grip on the game [in Denmark] whereas when we played Norway in Cardiff, it’s our home, our fans, our atmosphere.”
“It felt like a different game and we had much more control⦠you just know you have to try to make your home advantage count.”
Injuries force changes
Wales will be without several regulars for the Denmark match. Karl Darlow, Joe Rodon, Dylan Lawlor, David Brooks and Harry Wilson are all out through injury.
That means manager Craig Bellamy will have to shuffle his squad. He says he has no choice but to make changes to the side that started against Norway.
The Denmark match follows a demoralising loss in Copenhagen last Sunday, when Wales were well beaten despite emerging with some credit from their Nations League opener against Portugal 10 days earlier.
What the win means for Euro 2028
The Norway victory gives Wales a platform heading into the Denmark match. A win would further underline the progress made since the low point of the run without a win.
Wales’ next task is to build on the performance that finally broke that run. Davies is confident the squad can repeat what worked against Norway.
Match details
| Date | Time | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 4 Oct | 19:45 BST | Denmark | Cardiff City Stadium |
Key facts
– Wales won 2-1 against Norway on Thursday
– The win ended a six-game winless run
– Denmark are ranked 21st in Fifa, 17 places above Wales
– Game live on BBC iPlayer, BBC Two Wales, BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and 5 Live, plus the BBC Sport website and app
The win against Norway was a statement. Now Wales must prove it was not a one-off.
The question is simple: can Wales keep it going? The squad believes it can, and Davies’ words show the confidence is real.
Source material: “Wales aiming to prove they can thrive at top level,” the BBC.
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