Denmark beat Wales 2-0 as set pieces deepen Bellamy’s Nations League troubles

Craig Bellamy’s Wales lost 2-0 to Denmark in Copenhagen on Sunday, leaving them bottom of Nations League Group A4 without a point or a goal after two matches. Ben Davies turned a Mikkel Damsgaard free-kick into his own net before Gustav Isaksen scored from another set piece. The defeat followed Thursday’s 1-0 loss to Portugal and extended Wales’ wait for a win in 2026.

Denmark arrived under pressure of their own after losing 3-2 to Norway. Wales had a chance to respond to their defeat in Lisbon, but Denmark created the stronger openings and made their second-half set pieces count. Bellamy later accepted that the better team had won, while Wales midfielder Ethan Ampadu said his side had fallen below its usual level.

Denmark’s pressure pays off

Bellamy changed six starters from the Portugal match, while Denmark coach Brian Riemer made one change from the defeat by Norway, according to the Football Association of Wales. Charlie Savage made his first competitive start for Wales. Denmark controlled the early exchanges, with Patrick Dorgu and Damsgaard causing problems for the visitors’ defence.

Isaksen thought he had put Denmark ahead in the 24th minute with a left-footed volley, but a VAR review found Rasmus Højlund offside in the build-up. Damsgaard then struck the post. Those chances left Wales level despite the early pressure, and the visitors began to create openings of their own before half-time.

In the 53rd minute, Damsgaard sent a free-kick into the Wales penalty area. Davies, challenging Højlund, turned the ball into his own net. Denmark doubled the lead from another Damsgaard delivery when Isaksen scored in the 65th minute, according to the FAW match report. Sky Sports described Isaksen’s strike as deflected.

Wales had later opportunities: Roberts was denied again by Jørgensen and Williams headed over. Denmark also threatened to add to the score, with another Højlund goal ruled out for offside. The final margin was two goals, but the disallowed efforts and Damsgaard’s shot against the post showed how often Denmark had threatened.

Bellamy and Ampadu assess the defeat

“I’m really hurting,” Bellamy said after the match, according to Sky Sports. He said he expected the team and its younger players to improve, but acknowledged Denmark had posed a difficult challenge. Bellamy said he had warned his players before kick-off that this match would be tougher than the Portugal game.

“The best team won overall,” Bellamy said. He described the result as fair and said reviewing the match would be “a tough watch back”. While praising his players for putting their bodies on the line, he added that he wanted more from them. His assessment reflected a result in which Wales had moments of attacking promise but could not turn them into a goal.

Ampadu told BBC Sport, in comments reported by Sky Sports, that Wales had not reached their usual level. He said they needed to be tidier on the ball, especially in transitions, and had not created enough to score. He also called the two set-piece concessions frustrating, saying Wales work hard on that part of their defending but had not defended well enough against Denmark.

Two defeats, with Norway next

The Denmark result followed Wales’ loss in Portugal, covered in NewsJaws’ earlier report on Bellamy’s response to that match. Wales have now lost their opening two Group A4 fixtures by a combined score of 3-0. The FAW says their next match is at home to Norway on Thursday, giving Bellamy’s side another chance to earn their first points of the campaign.