Uefa Nations League: Christian Eriksen strikes twice as Denmark beat Wales
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A dispute over commercial rights led to Denmark's first-team players boycotting Wednesday's friendly against Slovakia
Wales suffered a sobering Nations League defeat in Denmark as Christian Eriksen's two goals inspired the hosts to victory.
The Danes were back at full strength after their senior players boycotted Wednesday's 3-0 friendly defeat in Slovakia over a commercial rights dispute, and it was one of their returning stars, Eriksen, who gave them the lead with a low finish in the first half.
The Tottenham midfielder scored his second after the break with a confidently struck penalty, awarded after Ethan Ampadu was judged to have handled a cross from Viktor Fischer.
Wales, who were competitive for long periods of the game, felt the decision was harsh, but Denmark's efficient display was ultimately enough to give them a winning start to their Nations League campaign.
Wales' dose of reality
For a young and developing Wales side, this was a dose of reality after the 4-1 thrashing of the Republic of Ireland three days earlier, in what was Ryan Giggs' first competitive match in charge.
On that occasion, Giggs' side crushed their opponents by displaying a swagger with which very few Welsh sides have ever played.
But whereas the Irish offered little resistance, Denmark - who reached the last 16 of the World Cup this summer - posed a far more challenging examination of Wales' credentials.
Wales had beaten the Republic of Ireland 4-1 in Ryan Giggs' first competitive game as Wales manager
The step up in class was most evident in midfield. Wales were in total control of that area against the Republic, with 17-year-old Ampadu man of the match and ably supported by the ever dependable Joe Allen.
Against Denmark, however, they were faced with a world-class playmaker in Eriksen and, although Wales' holding midfielders would surely have been told beforehand to mark him closely, the Spurs player was allowed to wander unopposed into the penalty area and score with a low shot in off the post.
It was a harsh lesson for Wales' young players, who were not allowed to play with any fluency by a disciplined and organised Danish side.
They learned too how unforgiving international football can be, as Ampadu discovered when he penalised for a handball, as Fischer's cross struck him from just a couple of yards away.
As Giggs has alluded to, however, this promising Wales side is a work in progress and, after a blistering start in Cardiff, his young players will have learned a great deal from this defeat.
Eriksen shines after chaotic build-up
Denmark had endured a chaotic build-up to this fixture, amid the dispute between the Danish football association and its players over commercial rights.
Forced to field a semi-professional side, the Danes lost 3-0 in Slovakia on Wednesday but with the players and FA agreeing to talks over the issue, the senior men - including Eriksen and Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel - returned for the visit of Wales.
There was a sense of inevitability that Eriksen would prove the hosts' inspiration, as his two strikes meant he has now been directly involved in 20 goals in his past 18 appearances for Denmark, scoring 15 times and providing five assists.
Eriksen's influence on the game was only fleeting but his decisive contributions summed up the Danish performance: efficient rather than spectacular, and clinical.
Man of the match - Christian Eriksen (Denmark)
Denmark’s win was built on solid defensive foundations, but it was Eriksen’s two moments of quality which proved the difference in an otherwise relatively even contest.
Eriksen's international form continues - the stats
Ryan Giggs has lost two of his first five matches in charge - as many defeats as Wales suffered in 12 games prior to his appointment.
Since Mark Hughes' win in Belarus back in September 1999, each of the past five Wales managers have lost their first competitive match away from home.
Wales have lost away from home in a competitive fixture for the first time since a 2-0 defeat by Bosnia-Herzegovina in October 2015.
Giggs' side have failed to score in three of their past four games in all competitions, as many instances as in their previous 13 matches.
Denmark are now unbeaten in 11 home matches in all competitions, winning five, since a 1-0 loss to Montenegro in October 2016.
Age Hareide's men have kept seven clean sheets in their past nine home matches, conceding just two goals in that time.
What's next?
Wales face Spain in a friendly on Thursday, 11 October (19:45 BST), before returning to Nations League action against the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday, 16 October (19:45 BST).