Bellamy: Norway win has 'thrown a hand grenade' into Wales' Nations League group
Craig Bellamy says Wales' victory over Norway has blown their Nations League group wide open as they prepare to face Denmark in Cardiff, with third place or higher key to Euro 2028 qualifying seeding.
Wales head into Sunday's Nations League meeting with Denmark in Cardiff with their group transformed by Thursday's win over Norway, a result head coach Craig Bellamy said has "thrown a hand grenade" into the race behind Portugal. Despite the victory, Wales remain bottom of Group A4, level on points with Norway and Denmark at the halfway stage, with Portugal expected by Bellamy to win the group "unless a disaster happens".
The win over Norway was Wales' first in Nations League A across two campaigns in the top tier and ended a six-match winless run dating back to November 2025. Bellamy described the preceding period as a "really difficult spell" and said his focus now is on repeating the performance against a Denmark side ranked 21st in the world.
The stakes extend beyond this campaign. Bellamy is "definitely conscious" of the importance of finishing above fourth, because a third-place finish or higher would make Wales a top seed in December's draw for Euro 2028 qualifying, avoiding another pot one opponent. He called that prospect "a real motivation".
Wales' options are limited for the second meeting with Denmark in seven days, after last weekend's dispiriting defeat in Copenhagen. Karl Darlow, Joe Rodon, Dylan Lawlor and Harry Wilson are absent, and David Brooks has returned to his club. Bellamy said he would pick the team that started against Norway "all day" but that one or two changes are unavoidable because some players did not come through the game.
Bellamy said he did not recognise his team in Copenhagen, citing disconnection between front and back, a failure to create overloads and Denmark's ease in pressing. He said he learned a lot from that match and stressed consistency, adding that Wales must "perform, perform, perform" on Sunday.
Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency / BBC Sport
