Bellamy: Wales win ‘exploded’ Nations League group

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Image caption, Craig Bellamy took charge of Wales in July 2024, following the departure of former boss Rob Page

• Published50 minutes ago

Craig Bellamy says Wales’ win over Norway has “thrown a hand grenade” into their Nations League group as they go in search of another victory against Denmark in Cardiff on Sunday.

Wales remain bottom of Group A4 despite Thursday’s morale-boosting triumph over Norway, though they are level on points with the World Cup quarter-finalists and Denmark at the halfway point in the campaign.

They would take a big step towards avoiding a last-place finish by beating Denmark on Sunday (19:45), and receive a significant boost to their European Championship qualification hopes.

If Wales end their Nations League campaign in third place or higher, they will be a top seed in December’s draw for Euro 2028 qualifying.

Bellamy says Portugal will win the group “unless a disaster happens” – but feels the race for the places is wide open after his side shocked Norway.

“I don’t know with the way the group’s gone now because that [result] has thrown in a hand grenade,” he said.

Wales v Denmark

Nations League Group A4

Sunday, 4 October, 19:45 BST

Cardiff City Stadium

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

“Basically, the group’s exploded now between the three of us because, obviously, Denmark will look at it and say, well, they didn’t expect that, so we all sit on three points apart from Portugal.

“Portugal have run away with this, and they’re going to win the group. Now can we really be in the mix with these two heavyweight Scandinavian teams? That’s the aim. We’ll see where that goes.”

Wales came from behind against Norway to register their first Nations League A win across two campaigns in the competition’s top tier.

The victory also ended a six-match winless run stretching back to November 2025, with Bellamy admitting after the game that he had been through a “really difficult spell”.

Wales will now attempt to build on what was the most notable success of the Bellamy era when they take on a Denmark side ranked 21st in the world.

“We have to perform like we did against Norway,” Bellamy added.

“That’s all I’m thinking about again – consistency and perform, perform, perform.”

Nevertheless, Bellamy acknowledged that he is “definitely conscious” of the importance of finishing above fourth in the group.

“We see [the level when] we’re playing against teams who are pot one, so if we don’t have to play another pot one, then it’s nice,” he added.

“It’s a real motivation, of course. That would really help us.”

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Figure caption,

Norway win has thrown a ‘hand grenade’ into their Nations League group

More changes to come?

Bellamy regularly makes significant changes to his side regardless of results.

Wales’ options are limited in this window, with Karl Darlow, Joe Rodon, Dylan Lawlor and Harry Wilson all absent and David Brooks returning to his club after the opening defeat in Portugal.

Even so, Bellamy says he has no choice but to make alterations to the team that started against Norway as Wales play the final game in this new four-match international window.

“If I could pick the team that started the other night, [I would] all day,” he said.

“[But it is] just not possible. I would love to make it possible, but it isn’t. One or two didn’t come through it.

“So, not giving away the team, of course, but there will be one or two changes because we have to.”

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Wales take on Denmark for the second time in seven days, having been beaten in dispiriting fashion in the reverse fixture last weekend.

Bellamy “didn’t recognise” his team in Copenhagen, adding: “That’s not what we do and how we’ve been when we’ve been at our best.

“We were too disconnected from front to back. We didn’t create the overloads. It was too easy for [Denmark] to press us. Five men could press seven of our players – that’s impossible.

“We learned a lot; I learned a lot from Denmark.”