Denmark 1-1 England
England’s Euro 2024 campaign stuttered on at the Frankfurt Arena on Thursday evening as they drew 1-1 with Denmark…and were outplayed by the Danes for much of the game.
Captain Harry Kane slotted England into an early lead but Denmark were level before the break when Morten Hjulmand hit a 25 yard stunner, and that seemed to take the fight out of the Three Lions. After Slovenia had drawn 1-1 with Serbia, England knew a win would take them through to the knockout phase but they fluffed their lines; and Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand can be happy with his team’s work, but disappointed they didn’t take all three points.
Highlights of the game
England coach Gareth Southgate has been looking for the right balance in his midfield and he stuck with the same team which beat Serbia 1-0. Phil Foden seemed to be playing with more freedom and a little narrower, and he nearly profited when he picked up the ball on the edge of the area but his shot flew over Kasper Schmeichel’s bar.
Denmark didn’t heed that warning and were behind on 17 minutes. Kyle Walker stole in down the right wing and pulled the ball back and, after a couple of deflections it landed at the feet of Kane who made no mistake from eight yards.
The Danes are a good side, 21st in the FIFA rankings, and any England fans hoping for a relaxing evening had a reminder on 28 minutes when Christian Eriksen picked the ball off the English defence and pulled the ball across for Ramsus Hojlund, but his Manchester United colleague couldn’t sort his feet out and Jude Bellingham cleared the danger. Then Jonas Wind came close when his shot was deflected over the bar by Marc Guehi.
Denmark’s leveller was an absolute beauty.
A bit of sloppy play from England, giving the ball away from a throw in, left Hjulmand in space some 25 yards out and he hit the sweetest shot which went in off the post, giving Jordan Pickford no chance. It was the 24 year old Sporting star’s first international goal and he won’t hit many better than that.
England seemed to have lost the impetus, as they did against Serbia, and the second half started at walking pace, the heat and humidity in the Frankfurt stadium maybe sapping the energy.
With little sign of improvement and 20 minutes to play Southgate rolled the dice, replacing Kane, Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka with Ollie Watkins, Jarrod Bowen and Eberechi Eze. And within a minute Watkins got round the back and was through on goal, but Kasper Schmeichel made himself big to save. The Aston Villa man brought the team, and the England fans to life with his speed and inventiveness and he soon forced a corner, but it came to nothing.
The Danes were still dangerous and had their eyes on a win, and Pierre-Emille Hojbjerg forced Pickford into a smart save low to his right. If anything it looked like Denmark were the more likely as Andreas Christensen and Hojbjerg both had pot shots at Pickford.
Denmark have two points and their destiny in their own hands, England have four but they have a lot of work to do to convince anyone they are serious title contenders.
Key statistics
The Euro 2024 betting odds here at SBOTOP backed an England win but, after scoring their goal, the Three Lions went into their shell and Denmark had more possession, more shots, nine to six, and more shots on target at four to two by half time.
It didn’t get any better for England, who were attempting to win their opening two games at a European Championships for the first time. Denmark won the final shot count by 16 to 12 and seven to four on target.
But to cheer up England fans, Kane’s goal meant he has scored in four consecutive tournaments and he won the Golden Boot in the first of those, the 2018 World Cup.
What’s next?
With hosts Germany already through to the knockout phase this was a chance for the Three Lions to make their statement too…but they didn’t.
Later on Thursday night Spain and Italy both have a chance to qualify when they lock horns in Group B and we’ll be back with more Euro 2024 updates over the weekend; on Friday there’s another blockbuster clash when France take on the Netherlands. Group C concludes next Tuesday 25th as England face Slovenia and Denmark meet Serbia and all four teams are still alive and kicking.
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