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.

“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,” said the Wales manager, Craig Bellamy. “This team will get better, these players will keep improving. For me now it’s just focus, two more games to go.”

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.