Craig Bellamy expressed his disappointment following Denmark's commanding 2-0 victory over Wales on 27 September 2026 at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, acknowledging that the hosts deserved their win despite the pain of the defeat.
A Ben Davies own goal and a strike from Gustav Isaksen secured the victory for Brian Riemer's side. The result leaves Wales without a win in six matches during 2026 and pointless from their away Nations League A double-header against Portugal and Denmark. Both teams entered the match searching for their first points in Group A4, with Denmark having lost 3-2 to Norway and Wales 1-0 to Portugal in their opening fixtures.
Despite the setback, Bellamy maintained his belief that his squad will develop through exposure to elite European opposition on a regular basis.
I'm really hurting. When you see an athletic team run over you a little bit... but then, will we improve? I think we will,the Wales head coach said.
This team will get better, these players will keep improving. There are young ones coming in well after I'm gone.
Bellamy reflected on his approach to managing during difficult periods.
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? I'm probably more loving when I'm losing, I'm probably more of a pain in the backside when I'm winning.
How did Denmark control the match?
Denmark's dominance was evident from the opening stages, with Mikkel Damsgaard striking the post early on and Gustav Isaksen having a goal ruled out for offside. Wales showed improvement after the first half hour but ultimately fell victim to two Danish set-piece finishes that proved decisive.
Bellamy had warned his players beforehand about the challenge ahead.
I said to the players before the game, 'this is going to be tougher than Portugal',he explained.
It was a different challenge but a very difficult one. The best team won overall. As disappointed as I am with that, the result I probably think was fair.
What do the results mean for Wales' campaign?
The defeat, arriving just three days after a 1-0 loss to Portugal in Lisbon, underscores the demanding nature of competing in League A Group 4 alongside Portugal, Denmark and Norway in the 2026/27 Nations League. Wales are experiencing their second stint in the top tier of the competition, and captain Ben Davies acknowledged the harsh lessons being learned at this level.
It was a tough game. They are a good team and made it a hard game for us,the Tottenham defender told BBC Match of the Day Wales.
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. We have to regroup and go again on Thursday.
Winger Sorba Thomas shared Bellamy's optimism about future improvement.
Thankfully we've got two games at home still to come. We'll have home advantage so we need to show a reaction,he told BBC Match of the Day Wales.
We are just going to get better, 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.
What happens next for Wales?
Wales will have the opportunity to respond with home advantage at Cardiff City Stadium. They host Norway on Thursday, 1 October 2026, before facing Denmark again on Sunday, 4 October 2026. The league phase runs until 17 November 2026, giving Bellamy's squad multiple opportunities to accumulate points against their Group A4 rivals.
Key Facts:
- Wales have won none of their last six matches in 2026 and remain pointless in their Nations League A campaign
- Ben Davies' own goal and Gustav Isaksen's finish secured Denmark's 2-0 victory at Parken Stadium
- Wales conceded from two set-pieces, a recurring issue at the elite level of European football
- Home fixtures against Norway and Denmark offer Wales a chance to recover points before the league phase concludes in November
- Both Wales and Denmark entered the match on zero points after opening defeats to Portugal and Norway respectively
