Denmark dominate Wales in Nations League to leave Bellamy ‘really hurting’

Wales wilted in Copenhagen as a 2-0 defeat to Denmark left them bottom of their Nations League group with no points or goals from their first two games.

After a first half in which Wales were very much second-best and fortunate to reach the break level, Denmark’s domination was rewarded by a Ben Davies own goal and a Gustav Isaksen strike in the second period.

Wales lost Thursday’s opener to Portugal 1-0 and Sunday’s result leaves them already facing an uphill battle to avoid relegation from Group A4. Denmark were under similar pressure after being beaten 3-2 by Norway on Thursday, but rose to the occasion and should have won more comfortably.

The Wales manager, Craig Bellamy, had happy memories of the Parken Stadium when as a 19-year-old he had scored the Wales winner in a Euro 2000 qualifier. Bellamy had promised to make changes given the short turnaround of fixtures and, in the event, made six with Charlie Savage’s surprise promotion the most notable switch.

The son of former Wales international Robbie Savage, Charlie joined the squad after several withdrawals, with his previous two caps having both come against Gibraltar. Daniel James, Kieffer Moore and Sorba Thomas formed a reshaped frontline, while Chris Mepham and Connor Roberts were drafted into defence.

Denmark were soon playing their way through a porous Wales midfield though, and chances came their way. Neco Williams was caught out by Joachim Andersen’s pass from the back and Isaksen flashed his shot wide. Isaksen then sent over a cross that Patrick Dorgu headed off target.

The hosts thought they had taken the lead after 24 minutes. Wales were exposed by a counterattack led by Mikkel Damsgaard and Isaksen met Rasmus Højlund’s cross with a thumping volley, only for VAR to rule offside in the buildup.

Damsgaard struck a post seconds later and it looked a matter of time before Denmark would score. But Dorgu headed off straight down the tunnel in a potential injury blow for Manchester United, and Wales began to create chances of their own.

Thomas was just off target from 20 yards after an Andersen error and Wales went even closer two minutes before the interval. Brennan Johnson got to the byline after working a one-two with Thomas and pulled the ball back to Roberts, whose shot under pressure was tipped away by Filip Jörgensen from close range.

Williams fired straight at Jörgensen at the start of the second half, but Wales were behind after 53 minutes from a free-kick. Damsgaard delivered a delicious ball and, while Højlund wheeled away celebrating the final touch, it ultimately went in off the unfortunate Davies for an own goal.

Isaksen put the contest beyond Wales after 66 minutes. Moore headed off the Wales goalline, but the Lazio winger was quickest on to the loose ball and his deflected strike went in off the underside of the bar.

Mohamed Daramy spurned a great chance to add further Danish gloss and both sides had late efforts ruled out, with Williams’s header disallowed for a push by Ethan Ampadu.

It does not get any easier for Wales with a visit from Erling Haaland’s Norway on Thursday, before a return date against Denmark in Cardiff.