Craig Bellamy expressed his pain following Wales’ loss to Denmark in the Nations League, acknowledging that his team was outperformed at Parken on Sunday.
With this defeat, Wales has now suffered two consecutive losses at the start of their Group A4 campaign, as an own goal by Ben Davies and a second-half strike from Gustav Isaksen handed Denmark a 2-0 victory.
Rasmus Hojlund had an earlier goal overturned for offside before Denmark took the lead in the 53rd minute, when Mikkel Damsgaard’s free kick was deflected into the net by Davies.
Another free kick from Damsgaard resulted in Denmark’s second goal, with Isaksen’s deflected volley going over Danny Ward. It could have been worse for Wales as well: Hojlund had another goal disallowed for offside, and a late chance for Neco Williams was denied when the referee called a foul on Ethan Ampadu during the build-up.
Wales is struggling, having not won any of their last six matches in all competitions (D3 L3), which is their longest winless streak since a nine-game run between June 2022 and March 2023.
Despite the setback, Bellamy believes that competing against top European teams will help his squad improve, with their next match against Norway on Thursday.
“I’m really hurting. Seeing an athletic team outplay us, but will we improve? I think so,” Bellamy noted.
“This team is destined to grow, and there are promising young players emerging for the future. Right now, I’m focused on the next two games, considering how I can support their development.”
“I tend to be more laid-back when things aren’t going well; I can be a handful when we’re winning.”
FT | 2-0
Defeat for Cymru.
https://t.co/QriINQ3Nld pic.twitter.com/wXBkpcT8AH
— Wales (@Cymru) September 27, 2026
Denmark’s control was evident statistically, as they recorded 20 shots, only surpassing that total in two previous Nations League matches against the Republic of Ireland and Portugal.
Brian Riemer’s squad remains unbeaten in their last eight home games across competitions, winning six (while drawing two).
Wales managed only an expected goals (xG) total of 0.65 from 10 attempts, but Sorba Thomas acknowledged the need for improvement. “We are down as a team. We believed we were in the game, but they capitalized on their chances,” Thomas remarked.
“We must be more decisive in front of goal and make the most of our opportunities. I wish my shot had gone in; it might have changed the game. However, we didn’t score even after creating more chances. We’ll learn from this experience.”
“Fortunately, we have two home games ahead. We’ll have the support of our fans, so we must respond positively.”
“We’re going to improve. As a small nation, we have big hearts and beliefs, and it’s essential for us to demonstrate that on the pitch.”
Bellamy’s main disappointment was the manner in which his team conceded both goals, with Damsgaard’s set pieces creating major issues for the Welsh defense.
“I warned the players that this match would be tougher than facing Portugal,” Bellamy said.
“It presented a different yet very challenging obstacle. Ultimately, the best team won, and while I’m disappointed, I believe the result was warranted.”
Fan Take: This match highlights the challenges faced by smaller nations in international soccer, especially when competing against established teams. Wales’ performance, while disappointing, serves as a reminder of the importance of resilience and improvement in the competitive landscape of the sport.
Source: www.soccernews.com
