Ben Davies has played every minute of Wales’ three matches in the current international break as they prepare to host Denmark in Cardiff on Sunday, aiming to build on their first ever Nations League A win. The victory over Norway on Thursday ended a six-game winless run and lifted spirits within the squad and coaching staff.
Wales came from behind to secure a 2-1 win against Norway, a result that lifted pressure after a difficult run stretching back to November. Before that, Wales had suffered a heavy defeat to North Macedonia, lost the World Cup play-off semi-final against Bosnia-Herzegovina, and recorded draws against Northern Ireland and Ghana, followed by defeats to Romania, Portugal, and Denmark. The triumph against Norway was a clear response from Craig Bellamy’s side, who showed improvement in performance and attitude.
Wales captain Davies said the team is determined to prove they belong in the top tier of the Nations League. “We don’t want to be in a situation where you feel like you’re not competing against bigger teams,” he said. “I thought we laid a good marker down the other night [against Norway] to show that we do belong playing against these teams – it was a much better all-round performance.”
The Norway match was helped by an early second-half red card for defender Torbjorn Heggem, but Wales had already troubled the World Cup quarter-finalists before the sending off. Davies, who has earned 103 caps for Wales and plays for Tottenham, said the level of opposition was high but the team was ready to compete. “The teams at this level are all strong. All the games are going to be tough but we’re here to compete and here to try to give the best account of us that we can,” he said. “It was really pleasing to get the three points. It gives us, as a group, a lot of confidence going into the games coming up.”
Bellamy has been forced to manage a squad affected by injuries, with Karl Darlow, Joe Rodon, Dylan Lawlor, David Brooks, and Harry Wilson all unavailable. Changes to the starting line-up are expected after last Sunday’s defeat in Denmark. Wales lost the Nations League opener to Portugal 10 days ago and were well beaten in Copenhagen, a result Bellamy wants to reverse at home.
Davies highlighted the importance of home advantage at the Cardiff City Stadium. “It does make a big difference going away. We didn’t get a grip on the game [in Denmark] whereas when we played Norway in Cardiff, it’s our home, our fans, our atmosphere,” he said. “It felt like a different game and we had much more control… you just know you have to try to make your home advantage count.”
Denmark sit 17 places above Wales in the FIFA rankings, currently 21st to Wales’ 38th. The match offers Wales a chance to cement their progress in the Nations League A and build momentum toward future tournaments, including Euro 2028. The last meeting with Denmark resulted in a defeat, making the home fixture an opportunity for Bellamy’s team to respond.
After the Norway victory, Bellamy described the group as having “exploded,” reflecting a shift in Wales’ competitiveness at this level. The match against Denmark will test whether that momentum can continue.
Ben Davies remains a constant presence in the Wales defence, having played every minute this break, and his leadership is expected to be central as Wales look to repeat their recent performance against a higher-ranked opponent on home soil.
According to Yahoo Sports.
