[ad_1]
Denmark made it through to the last 16 of Euro 2020 on Monday after a convincing 4-1 win over Russia which in addition to Belgium’s win against Finland meant they finished second in Group B.
Goals from Mikkel Damsgaard, Yussuf Poulsen, Andreas Christensen and Joakim Maehle gave Denmark their first win of the tournament on an exhilarating evening at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen.
Delirious fans showered each other with beer as Denmark scored the goal that allowed them to end the group stage in a party mood after the trauma of Christian Eriksen’s mid-game collapse in their opening game against Finland.
Kasper Hjulmand’s side will face Wales in the last 16 in Amsterdam on Saturday, while Russia head home after their worst run in head-to-head three-way tie-breakers with Finland and Denmark.
“I’ve never experienced anything like this. The atmosphere gets better every time we are here in Parken,” Maehle told Danish broadcaster DR.
Hjulmand praised the team spirit and the “amazing” friendship after enjoying the celebrations on the pitch.
“If anyone deserves this, it’s our players. I can’t imagine how they can come back from what they’ve been through,” he told reporters.
“I think it helps the team and hopefully it gives the whole country a good moment.”
Denmark come into the game pointless from their first two matches but know a win over Russia by two or more goals and a loss to Finland will guarantee they qualify from the group as second-placed.
During the match’s opening ceremony, a large Danish jersey with the words “Eriksen 10” on it was unfurled to deafening cheers from the supporters, after which a rousing rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” came from the stands.
After the match, Denmark continued with the same aggression as in their defeats to Finland and Belgium but initially struggled to create chances against a Russian side who were content to keep things tight.
Par host team Russia angered the Danish fans by taking their time with set pieces and throw-ins midway through the first half.
But it was Russia who had the first chance of the match, Aleksandr Golovin darting on goal and creating a fine scoring opportunity only to shoot straight at Kasper Schmeichel from close range.
– Damsgaard Moment –
They were left to regret missing out on that opportunity six minutes before half-time when Damsgaard showed why he was chosen to replace Eriksen as Denmark’s playmaker.
The Sampdoria winger, who turns 21 earlier next month, looked like he was having the best time in the world when he curled a curling shot past Matvey Safonov and caused a blast in the stands.
Their tails up and the crowd now bounced in unison, Jannik Vestergaard almost made it two within minutes when he headed a corner just wide.
Denmark continued to press after the restart but the second came in almost comical circumstances at the hour mark.
Poulsen could hardly believe his luck when Daler Kuzyaev’s faulty back-pass slid straight at him in front of the Russia goal, giving him the simple task of scoring into an empty net and giving Denmark the two-goal lead they need to finish second if Belgium win.
Soon after, the already rowdy fans at Parken gave the loudest cheers of the night as news of Romelu Lukaku’s opener against Finland filtered out, but they were soon dampened by a goal disallowed and Russia awarded a home-placed penalty by Artem Dzyuba.
They bounced back with 15 minutes remaining thanks to a Lukas Hradecky own goal that put Belgium one goal ahead and Denmark in second.
Denmark now charged forward and Safonov had to make three superb saves in quick succession before Christensen struck a superb long-range strike in the 79th minute.
As the fans, who had been making an incredible noise throughout the match, began their celebrations to reach the knockout stages, Denmark ended the group stage in style when Maehle scored the fourth goal three minutes later to complete the perfect evening.
The players and coaching staff then gathered together in the center circle as they awaited confirmation of Belgium’s victory before throwing wild celebrations amid fantastic cheers from the stands.
td/jc
[ad_2]
picture credit