Craig Bellamy goes into Wales' trip to Denmark with a very specific memory bank. He scored an 87th-minute winner in Copenhagen in 1998, his first competitive international goal, and Wales were ending a seven-game winless run in competitive matches. Bellamy said: "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."

Bellamy's record against Denmark

That 1998 goal still sits at the centre of the story, but it was not the only time Bellamy hurt Denmark. He also scored the winner against them in November 2008 from around 20 yards out in the 77th minute, and Wales needed it to keep moving after another difficult period. Bellamy's own recollection of the first winner was striking too: "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."

There is a reasonable split in how people frame that 1998 game. Iwan Roberts called it "a magnificent header and probably saved Gould," while Bobby Gould said: "All I saw was 14 fantastic Welshmen out there giving everything." Bellamy's goal clearly mattered. Gould's version reminds you the performance was not carried by one man alone.

The pressure on both sides in Copenhagen

This is not just a nostalgia piece. Wales have no wins in their five matches in 2026, while Denmark also lost their opening Nations League match. Brian Riemer has already labelled the game "must-win", and that is where the tension sits ahead of Denmark vs Wales.

The recent figures are not flattering for either side. Wales are bottom of Group 4 after one game, on 0 points and a -1 goal difference. Denmark are third, also on 0 points and a -1 goal difference. Both teams arrive with work to do, which is why this fixture carries more weight than Bellamy's old clips suggest.

Denmark's forward line also gives the game a sharper edge. Rasmus Højlund rated 7.83 against Norway and scored once, while Erling Haaland's 9.49 against Denmark underlined the sort of attacking level Wales have to deal with in this international window. Bellamy's memories are the hook, but the match itself is the point.

Wales need a result in Copenhagen, and Bellamy has already shown he can decide this fixture from both the pitch and the touchline. The repeat meeting comes on 27 September, with Denmark still carrying the pressure of a match their coach has called must-win.

Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →