Traditionally, international sides have played six games across three windows - all of which have featured two fixtures - in September, October and November. But for the first time this year, the September and October breaks were merged. Wales' hopes of coping with the new schedule were not helped by a string of injuries, with stars such as Karl Darlow, Joe Rodon, Dylan Lawlor and Harry Wilson missing the entire camp and David Brooks dropping out of the squad after defeat by Portugal in the opening game.
Bellamy said Dan James was not fit enough to play against Denmark after he was left on the bench at the Cardiff City Stadium, and acknowledged Ben Davies probably should have been rested after he was withdrawn late on. "If we have a few injuries, which we had more than one or two, they miss four games," said Bellamy. "We can deal with two, do you understand? And then the squad will get really tested. The intensity of the squad, the athleticism, really I think [the four-game break] is designed for the elites."
Wales rarely looked like scoring against Denmark, who came close to breaking the deadlock on a couple of occasions before Hjolund's 75th-minute winner. Danny Ward made fine saves from Hojlund and Gustav Isaksen to keep Wales level but it was the goalkeeper's error, and foul, which led to the penalty. Bellamy, though, suggested the game had not swung on Ward's mistake.
Despite defeat, Wales climbed to third in Nations League Group A4 courtesy of their head-to-head record against Norway. Wales play Norway in Oslo next month before completing the campaign with a home game against Portugal three days later.
Source: BBC Sport Football · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing