Bellamy: Norway win has 'thrown in a hand grenade' into Wales' Nations League group
October 3, 2026 20:30
Craig Bellamy says Wales' victory over Norway has “thrown in a hand grenade” into their Nations League group as they prepare to face Denmark in Cardiff on Sunday (19:45 BST). The win left Wales level on points with Norway and Denmark at the halfway stage of Group A4, though they remain bottom of the section with Portugal top.
KEY CONTEXT
Bellamy, who took charge of Wales in July 2024, described the group as having “exploded” between the three teams chasing second place. He said: “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.” He added that “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.”
The Norway victory was Wales' first Nations League A win across two campaigns at the top tier and ended a six-match winless run dating back to November 2025. Bellamy conceded he had been through a “really difficult spell” before the result.
SQUAD NOTES AND SELECTION
Bellamy said he will make changes for the Denmark game despite his wish to keep the side that beat Norway. He said he would pick that XI “all day” but that “one or two didn't come through it” and “there will be one or two changes because we have to.” Wales' options are limited in this international window: Karl Darlow, Joe Rodon, Dylan Lawlor and Harry Wilson are absent, and David Brooks returned to his club after the opening defeat in Portugal.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
Denmark are ranked 21st in the world. Wales face them for the second time in seven days, having lost the reverse fixture last weekend; Bellamy said he “didn't recognise” his team in Copenhagen and that their performance there was not how they have been at their best.
WHY IT MATTERS
A win over Denmark would move Wales closer to avoiding a last-place finish in Group A4 and would boost their chances in the Nations League table. If Wales finish the campaign third or higher, they will be a top seed in the December draw for Euro 2028 qualifying — a point Bellamy said he is “definitely conscious” of.