Yellow cards decide Danes make themselves strangely Germany’s opponent in the round of 16
25.06.2024, 22:54
What a strange finale in European Championship Group C: Because the Danes received fewer yellow cards than Slovenia, they moved into the round of 16 as group runners-up and met the German team there. The decision is a first in the history of the European Championship. Slovenia is also in the knockout round.
Knockout round reached in a strange way – and now the party crasher for hosts Germany? After a laborious 0:0 against Serbia, Denmark will face the team of national coach Julian Nagelsmann in the eagerly awaited European Championship round of 16. Danish Dynamite will now do everything in its power to burst Germany’s title dreams on Saturday (9 p.m.) in Dortmund.
With a goalless draw against the Serbs, the 1992 European champions, who had at least reached the semi-finals at the last EURO, secured second place in Group C behind England and ahead of Slovenia after a lot of nerve-wracking action with three draws. In the end, the fair play statistics decided the outcome because of the equal number of points and goals.
As in previous European Championship starts, Serbia was eliminated after the preliminary round. The “Orlovi” (Eagles) were not helped by the fingers crossed by tennis star Novak Djokovic, who was sitting in the VIP stands of the Munich Arena in his jersey. Serbia’s coach Dragan Stojkovic only used one striker in the group final. Juve star Dusan Vlahovic sat on the bench, Aleksandar Mitrovic was the sole attacker. Captain Dusan Tadic also stayed out at first. Kasper Hjulmand made a substitution for Denmark. Alexander Bah started in place of Victor Kristiansen.
Serbia has the last chance
Both teams began cautiously. The motto was not to take too many risks. Serbia was under pressure with only one point after a 1:1 draw against Slovenia and a 0:1 draw against England. It took a good quarter of an hour before Bah first posed a threat to the increasingly dominant Danes.
Christian Eriksen, who became his country’s record international player with his 133rd international appearance, tested Serbia’s keeper Predrag Rajkovic shortly afterwards – just like Rasmus Höjlund (32′). Wolfsburg’s Jonas Wind missed (39′). Serbia’s chances? None. Mitrovic was completely left hanging upside down.
Stojkovic reacted at half-time and brought on Tadic and ex-Frankfurt player Luka Jovic. The Serbs’ game became a little more forceful, the match more open, but not better. 66,000 spectators saw a lot of fighting and tension. Denmark remained a little more determined. The Serbs had their chances late, however, with Dusan Tadic (90.+2) placing the ball inaccurately from a good position.
2024-06-25 20:54:00
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