Bellamy looks to add to his Denmark record as Wales face wounded opponents

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Craig Bellamy scored two of his 19 international goals for Wales against Denmark

• Published25 minutes ago

When it comes to Wales needing a result, Craig Bellamy and Denmark have been something of a surprise dream fit.

On the back of a 1-0 loss to Portugal in Lisbon, the head coach is straight back down to business as he prepares his side to face the Danes in Copenhagen on Sunday (17:00 BST).

With no wins in their five matches in 2026, Bellamy and Wales sorely need a positive result – particularly as they bid to upset the odds and preserve their Nations League A status.

But Bellamy has an impressive history with Denmark, and the aim is now to create even more.

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In 1998, Bellamy came off the bench to net an 87th-minute winner – his first competitive international goal – as Wales came from behind to stun Denmark in Euro 2000 qualifying.

It ended Wales’ seven-game winless run in competitive matches, and former striker Iwan Roberts – who was an unused substitute in the game – felt the result rescued boss Bobby Gould.

“It was a magnificent header and probably saved Gould,” Roberts told the BBC’s Feast of Football podcast.

Gould himself said at the time: “All I saw was 14 fantastic Welshmen out there giving everything.”

He added: “When Craig scored the winner we were all sitting on the bench blowing it over the line.”

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Figure caption,

Bellamy’s Denmark goal that saved Bobby Gould

Bellamy’s own recollection of matters is somewhat different, with some members of the squad perhaps disappointed Gould had been handed a shock lifeline.

“I got loads of stick for it after the game as well, from the players in the changing room, and they weren’t too happy,” added the Wales boss.

“For me it was one of the happiest moments of my career at 19 years of age, and the players looked at me with such disgust.”

Of the game itself, Bellamy said: “The kit was awful; I looked awful.

“I was a young kid coming through at the time, scoring a lot of goals in the Championship. I was 19; everything was going in at that moment.

“The actual reflection of the game, they battered us. To come on, and it was the furthest thought from my mind that I was going to get a winner. It was crazy.”

Jay Dasilva – who was born just six months before Bellamy’s moment of magic in Copenhagen – revealed the head coach had not mentioned his goal to the squad.

But the Coventry City left-back duly vowed to “pull him up on it” after facing the media on the eve of the Nations League contest with the Danes.

Denmark v Wales

Nations League Group A4

Sunday, 27 September, 17:00 BST

Parken Stadium, Copenhagen

Watch on iPlayer

Listen on Sounds

Live on BBC iPlayer, BBC One Wales, BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and 5 Live, BBC Sport website and app, plus live text commentary.

A decade later, Bellamy inflicted maximum damage on Denmark once again.

Approximately 15 miles southwest of Parken Stadium, Wales took on Denmark in November 2008, a game in which Aaron Ramsey made his senior international debut.

Bellamy drilled beyond goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen from around 20 yards out in the 77th minute to earn John Toshack’s side a surprise friendly victory.

“I asked him to play deeper and go behind, and he still got his chances in the first half and scored the winning goal as well,” boss Toshack said after the contest.

Now leading Wales from the sidelines rather than on the pitch, Bellamy has the tough task of toppling Denmark as a coach.

Like Wales, Brian Riemer’s side lost their opening Nations League A game on Thursday night as they were beaten 3-2 by Norway in Oslo.

Denmark also failed to qualify for this year’s World Cup, as did Bellamy’s men, after suffering penalty shootout heartache in the play-offs against Czechia.

With Wales winless since beating North Macedonia in November last year and Denmark without a victory since overcoming the same opponents in the World Cup play-off semi-finals in March, both sides are bidding to end long waits to register a tick in the win column.

Denmark boss Riemer said the fixture with Wales is a “must-win”, with Bellamy going on to add that he could “understand the frustrations” of the Danish supporters.

The Wales head coach felt it was wise not to “poke the bear” when it comes to making any predictions about the contest with the somewhat wounded Danes.

But he will be quietly confident that his side have a chance of creating yet more positive headlines against Denmark as they bid to prove they have what it takes to do the business in the top tier of the Nations League.

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