A Christian Eriksen masterclass in Aarhus ended Gareth Bale’s hopes of securing a win in his first match wearing the captain’s armband for Wales.
Not for the first time, Eriksen turned into Denmark’s talisman, scoring twice to take his tally to 15 goals in his last 18 games for the national team.
It delivered Ryan Giggs a reality check, after a week in which his swashbuckling style of play was likened to that of Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Those comparisons came after his side’s convincing 4-1 win over the Republic of Ireland in Cardiff, though they struggled to trouble a talented Danish team.
READ THE FULL REPORT FROM AARHUS HERE.
Christian Eriksen stole the show with both goals on a disappointing night in Aarhus for Wales
FULL-TIME: Denmark 2-0 Wales
Ryan Giggs has plenty to ponder after suffering his first defeat of the new Nations League format against Denmark in Aarhus.
It turned out to be the Christian Eriksen Show, despite all the hype around Wales’ Gareth Bale, but the hosts proved worthy winners on a night that saw the money row thrust back into the spotlight.
Next up for Wales is a friendly tie against Spain in Cardiff before a trip to the Republic of Ireland when the Nations League returns.
VIEW FROM DENMARK
KIERAN GILL: One Danish journo near me giving Pione Sisto a zero out of 10 in his player ratings… bit harsh.
FIVE ADDED MINUTES
BOOKING: Kasper Schmeichel
The goalkeeper is shown a yellow card for taking too long over his goal-kick and he’s livid.
Don’t think he can have too many complaints but the result is not in doubt now. Job done for the hosts but how different this could have been had the row over money not been sorted.
EIGHTY-EIGHT MINUTES: David Brooks looks lively since coming on
The Bournemouth youngster has looked tidy since coming on and is showing why he is so highyl-regarded by both club and country.
It hasn’t quite worked out when he has tried to craft a meaningful opportunity but he has not lost hope.
He has a bright future in a Wales shirt, that much is certain.
SUBSTITUTION: Yussuf Poulson (off) Andreas Cornelius (on)
Denmark look to freshen up their front-line as they introduce the towering 6ft 5in Cornelius who will be well accustomed to Wales supporters after a spell at Cardiff City.
EIGHTY-TWO MINUTES: Bale has Schmeichel scrambling
Kasper Schmeichel can only punch out for a corner as a chance from Gareth Bale loops awkwardly towards the top corner.
It comes to nothing in the end but there remains life in Wales yet as Ryan Giggs urges his players to keep going until the final whistle.
Wales’ players being urged to keep the intensity as they begin to look tired across the park
FINAL SUBSTITUTION: Tom Lawrence (off) Ben Woodburn (on)
The Liverpool starlet – currently on loan at Sheffield United – burst onto the scene from an international perspective and he has a chance to produce some late drama.
Disappointing evening for Tom Lawrence but he too will learn a lot from it. Denmark look so fresh while Wales look leggy having played on Thursday.
The dispute over pay with the Danish FA saw the big stars sit out the midweek friendly defeat to Slovakia and their undoubted freshness is showing.
BOOKING: Ben Davies
The Tottenham and Wales left-back is quickly shown a yellow for a challenge high up the field on Denmark captain Simon Kjaer.
It was a fully committed challenge but he appears to have gone for the ball and can count himself unfortunate that he saw the referee brandish a card.
When it rains, it pours.
SEVENTY-FIVE MINUTES: Frustrating night gets worse with every passing minute
Concentration has begun to wane among Wales’ players and Denmark look the most likely to get the next goal – if there is one before the final whistle.
After the euphoria of Thursday’s Nations League opening win in Cardiff, this has been a mightily frustrating night for Ryan Giggs and his players.
Gareth Bale is exasperated as decisions go against his team-mates on a frustrating evening
The second goal came as a blow to Wales having looked on top before Eriksen scored again
SUBSTITUTION: Ethan Ampadu (off) Tyler Roberts (on)
Tough night for the 17-year-old Chelsea midfielder but he’ll learn a lot from events in Aarhus.
Can consider himself unfortunate giving away the penalty with the ball fizzed into him from a matter of yards but overall he’s come up against a real gem in Christian Eriksen.
Both Giggs and Ampadu know it is all about his development.
VIEW FROM DENMARK
KIERAN GILL: Ethan Ampadu being taught a harsh lesson here by Denmark after his man of the match performance against the Republic of Ireland.
Christian Eriksen been a handful for the teenager tonight. He’ll learn.
SIXTY-EIGHT MINUTES: Denmark sensing more goals in this game
Another rendition of the Welsh national anthem from the away supporters who, it must be said, have never stopped singing all evening.
Much as they did in the first half after they scored, Denmark buoyed and are going in search of more as they creep closer to their first Nations League victory.
Christian Eriksen has been the star of the show with Gareth Bale largely on the periphery given his high standards.
GOAL! CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN
He sends Wayne Hennessey the wrong way from the spot and finds the top right corner for his second of the game and Denmark’s second.
That will be a bitter pill for Ryan Giggs and Wales to swallow given how close Ampadu was to the shot – must have only been a matter of yards. Could he have got his hand down any quicker?
Wales need a goal and fast if they are to get a foothold in this match.
Christian Eriksen doubles Denmark’s lead from the penalty spot to further punish Wales
PENALTY DENMARK
Ethan Ampadu is dumbfounded as a shot from the edge of the box hits his arm inside the area and the referee points to the spot.
Christian Eriksen to step up…
VIEW FROM DENMARK
KIERAN GILL: Wales looking a little sloppy. Struggling to get a foothold in this game.
FIFTY-NINE MINUTES: Denmark should be 2-0 up!
Again it is far too easy for Denmark in the area as Mepham and Davies turn their backs and allow Braithwaite the time and space to shoot from no more than eight yards out.
The effort hits the side netting but it’s another worrying example of sloppy defending that will be punished at this level.
David Brooks is on now in place of Connor Roberts as the Wales fans blare out the national anthem in a bid to liven up their charges.
Expect activity on the Wales bench soon if they do not find an equaliser. David Brooks looks to be stripping off out of his substitute bib and is ready to be brought on.
He did well against the Republic of Ireland and was unfortunate not to be given the nod to start in Aarhus this evening.
FIFTY-FIVE MINUTES: Denmark looking to slow the game right down
Small, niggly fouls seem popular among the Danish players and it is having an impact, slowing Wales down as they look to get ahead of steam.
Deliveries have so far come to nothing but there seems to be much more purpose about the visitors so far in this second half as they shade the possession stats.
INJURY: Break in play so Kjaer can get some treatment for a head injury
The defender bravely takes the brunt of Bale’s free-kick as it crashes into the wall and he worryingly hit the pitch but is now back on his feet and responding to coaches.
Unlikely to force him off but after Luke Shaw’s horrific injury at Wembley against Spain, the medics are doing all the relevant checks.
FIFTY MINUTES: Scramble in the box… but Denmark get away with it!
Gareth Bale launches in a long throw from the left into the Danish box but after a frantic scramble between both sides the ball is eventually cleared.
Wales back in the ascendancy and with Tom Lawrence, who was gifted back possession, fouled with 25 yards to goal, Bale may fancy a strike on goal with Schmeichel looking somewhat worried.
Gareth Bale lined up for a strike from a central free kick but his effort crashes into the wall
FORTY-EIGHT MINUTES: Wales searching for their first shot on target
Denmark have defended really deep but Wales will have to step it up as they went the whole first 45 minutes without a single shot on target.
The quality is there in Bale, Ramsey, Allen and Ampadu but Denmark are proving a tough nut to crack.
BACK UNDERWAY
Team talks done and both sets of players are back out on the pitch. Denmark taking off Pione Sisto and bringing on former Middlesbrough attacker Viktor Fischer.
Ryan Giggs opts to stick rather than twist.
HALF-TIME: Denmark 1-0 Wales
So as it turned out, Christian Eriksen, rather than Gareth Bale, proved the difference (so far at least).
For Wales’ young stars it will have been an eye-opening 45 minutes and this is Ryan Giggs’ first test since taking the job.
Ethan Ampadu has looked to get Wales going alongside Aaron Ramsey but he was caught out, along with some of his team-mates, for the goal and needs to be careful in the second 45.
Ethan Ampadu has tried to provide energy in midfield for Wales but Christian Eriksen (right) has ran the show so far having got the important opening goal midway through the first half
VIEW FROM DENMARK
KIERAN GILL: Quite fun sitting so close to the action. Connor Roberts just had the ball on the right wing.
All of a sudden, you can hear Chris Gunter shouting: ‘TAKE HIM ON. GO ON. TAKE HIM ON. DO IT.’
FORTY-TWO MINUTES: Giggs needs to get his players in without further damage
Not long until both teams head to the dressing rooms for half-time and it could not come at a better time for Wales with Denmark full of confidence after the opening goal.
It’s been a solid, if unspectacular, away performance so far bar the one lapse in concentration around Eriksen.
Far from a disaster but the break will stem the Denmark momentum – at least for 15 minutes.
Wales have not played badly in Aarhus but need half-time to halt the current Denmark charge
VIEW FROM DENMARK
KIERAN GILL: What a save by Wayne Hennessey to deny Pione Sisto a beauty of a goal. The replays on the big screen draw ohs and ahs from the Danish crowd.
THIRTY-FIVE MINUTES: Huge save from Sisto’s wonder strike!
Wales look rattled now as Wayne Hennessey keeps them in the game with a stunning save.
Eriksen is spraying passes across the pitch with so much ease it’s frightening and defensively Wales need to hit the reset button.
The ball had been initially blocked but Sisto held back and it sat up kindly for him to connect with on the half-volley.
GOAL DENMARK – CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN!
You cannot give someone as talented as Christian Eriksen room in the box to pick his spot.
Joe Allen is trying to get back but he’s the wrong side of Eriksen and Wales pay the price as the home side erupt.
Take nothing away from the finish but that is the first time Wales have gone to sleep around the playmaker and it’s cost them dearly. Hosts on a real high now. This is exactly why the Danish FA had to settle the money row and get their big names back.
Back in the frame for the Nations League and he’s delivered as many knew he could. Time for Wales to step it up in search of an equaliser before the interval.
All smiles for Denmark as Christian Eriksen opens thew deadlock with a low-finish to the corner
CHANCE! Gareth Bale so close for Wales
The Real Madrid star finds himself one-on-one as early as the half-way line and he is like a rocket down the left before he unleashes a shot.
He keeps it low but it rolls agonisingly wide with Kasper Schmeichel at full stretch towards his far post.
Encouraging for Wales and Bale and a major warning for Kjaer that he simply cannot match the attacker for sheer pace.
TWENTY-SIX MINUTES: Both managers looking animated in their areas
It’s been a game of few clear-cut chances and that is never what a manager wants to see.
Giggs is trying to get messages over to some of his younger players as they dig in in what is already proving a far tougher test than the Republic of Ireland in Cardiff.
For Denmark boss Age Hareide, he looks relatively content with how his side have controlled the big danger in the opposition – Gareth Bale.
Ryan Giggs is a lot less relaxed having seen Denmark go close to opening the scoring already
CHANCE! Delaney so close to breaking the deadlock for Denmark
Huge let-off for Wales as Thomas Delaney evades everyone from a corner and his audacious volley motors just past the post with Wales helpless to the rocket effort.
Visitors need to switch on from set-plays. They’ve been warned.
TWENTY-ONE MINUTES: Denmark already have one eye on the counter-attack
Wales now having much more of the possession but with that comes the need to be switched on and ready for the counter-attack.
Having flashed a ball across the box at one end, Wales found themselves backtracking and James Chester, in for Ashley Williams, nipped in on the edge of his box; a challenge he needed to get right and he did.
Sure to be plenty of thoughts inside Ryan Giggs head after this relatively even opening period.
SEVENTEEN MINUTES: Schmeichel gets away with one!
Ethan Ampadu fires towards goal from range and the deflection off a defender loops high into the air and almost into the path of Connor Roberts as the Dane spread himself well.
That ball could have gone anywhere but fortunately for Denmark not into the back of their net.
Referee pretty quick with his whistle so far tonight with lots of players nipping in late to give away a foul. Wales getting the better of it after a strong early start from their hosts.
Lots of fouls in the early exchanges with the referee is proving red hot on with his whistle
THIRTEEN MINUTES: Wales starting to turn the screw
Aaron Ramsey finds room on the right and he lifts his head up before whipping in a ball for Gareth Bale to attack.
But the emerging Real Madrid attacker clatters into Simon Kjaer and is rightly judged to have fouled the Danish defender.
At the other end Denmark look to catch Wales cold but the eventual shot is blazed high over the bar and into the stand.
TEN MINUTES: All eyes on the midfield battle
The tricky element for both sides so far has been trying to get the ball to stick in the middle of the park.
It’s been an intriguing tussle between Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey and Tottenham’s Christian Eriksen with the former fouling the latter moments ago.
Both managers watch on with interest as they look to establish any potential tactical switches in order to get a stronger foothold on possession.
VIEW FROM DENMARK
KIERAN GILL: Good atmosphere at Ceres Park, a stadium hidden away in the woodlands of Aarhus. Around 2,500 visitors from Wales here and they’re making themselves heard.
So far, it looks like Gareth Bale is playing as a lone striker with Aaron Ramsey behind him. Tom Lawrence on the left, and Connor Roberts on the right.
Wales fans singing about the Danish players who came close to not playing.
‘You’re only here for the money’ and ‘Greedy b******’ being belted out on repeat.
Almost 2,500 Wales fans inside the Ceres Park stadium and they are making themselves heard
FIVE MINUTES: Aaron Ramsey and Ethan Ampadu get Wales ticking
Two of the stars from the Republic of Ireland win, both Ramsey and Ampadu are already looking to change the momentum and get the visitors forward.
The Arsenal man looks well up for this and almost threads through a pass into the box before the hosts get it clear and relieve the danger.
TWO MINUTES: Confident start from a full-strength Denmark
It’s a far cry from the lower league and futsal stars that slotted in for the friendly defeat to Slovakia recently.
The stars, including Christian Eriksen, are back and they are dominating the early exchanges as Wales stay disciplined to their shape.
MATCH IS UNDERWAY
Cacophany of noise from the away end as the Welsh national anthem is played.
It’s a sea of red from the supporters but winning in white is the mission for the stars this evening.
Goosebumps no doubt for these Wales fans. Fantastic support.
Wales, in their white shirts, are in the tunnel and are slowly emerging with their Danish counterparts who are in their traditional red.
Just moments away from a huge reception from the capacity crowd.
Gareth Bale is focused as he prepares to lead his team out of the tunnel as the captain
VIEW FROM DENMARK
KIERAN GILL: Gareth Bale’s first taste of Wales captaincy. Not a bad test for him against a full-strength Denmark side.
Wonder what those futsal players who could have been turning out are thinking right now…
Expectation building in Denmark with a large Welsh following having made the trip to watch
Just 15 minutes to go until the match gets underway and all eyes are on Gareth Bale with plenty of expectation on his shoulders.
Players around him will undoubtedly look to raise their game and he will want to produce a captain’s performance having looked sharp in the warm-up.
This is a huge test for Giggs on the road and he will want to be returning back to Cardiff unbeaten in the Nations League.
The policy of promoting youth worked so well against the Republic of Ireland but Denmark have plenty of World Cup experience in their ranks and are a totally different proposition.
Less than an hour until kick-off in Aarhus and Wales’ players are getting an early look at the surface.
Ryan Giggs will want to see the same intensity, application and desire that paid off so handsomely against a disappointing Republic of Ireland in Cardiff on Thursday night.
Gareth Bale has featured in plenty of big games – part of the furniture at Real Madrid – and his experience will be key against a revitalised Denmark side.
Joe Ledley and Gareth Bale get an early look at the playing surface ahead of tonight’s game
Boss Ryan Giggs will want to see his players start the tie with the same intensity as Thursday
For Wales the armband has changed hands for the first time since 2012 with Williams left out of the squad and star man Gareth Bale handed the responsibility.
Ethan Ampadu, one of the stand out players in the 4-1 win over the Republic of Ireland, retains his place in the midfield with Joe Allen, Aaron Ramsey and Tom Lawrence for company.
WALES XI: Hennessey, Roberts, Gunter, Chester, Mepham, Davies, Ampadu, Allen, Ramsey, Lawrence, Bale (c)
With kick-off closing in, team news is beginning to drop and Denmark are back to full strength for their first Nations League tie with main man Christian Eriksen the focal point in the midfield.
Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel is in goal and they have plenty of firepower in attack with Yussuf Poulson and Pione Sisto.
DENMARK XI: Schmeichel, Kjaer (C), Delaney, Eriksen, Braithwaite, M. Jorgensen, Dalsgaard, Stryger Larsen, Schone, Poulsen, Sisto.
In their second game of the UEFA Nations League, Ryan Giggs’s side are looking to build on their win over the Republic of Ireland as they take on Denmark.
Their hosts are back to strength having settled an ongoing issue over image rights and they will pose a stern test to a side being captained by Real Madrid star Gareth Bale.
Follow all the action as it happens in Aarhus right here with Sportsmail with updates from KIERAN GILL inside the stadium.
Gareth Bale captains Wales against Denmark in the second match of the UEFA Nations League
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