Bayern striker Kane put the English team in the lead in front of 47,000 spectators in Frankfurt after a Danish defensive error in the 18th minute. But because the “Three Lions” did not follow up and instead became passive, Hjulmand equalized with a powerful shot from around 35 meters before the break (34th minute). In the second half, the English team had another shot hit the post by Phil Foden (56th minute).
Thanks to the draw and the point split between Serbia and Slovenia (1:1) in the previous match, all teams in Group C still have a chance of reaching the round of 16 before the last matchday. The English are best placed with four points and are on course to make it into the knockout round in the worst case scenario as one of the four best third-placed teams in the group. Their last opponent is Slovenia next Tuesday (9 p.m.). Denmark, like Slovenia, has two points and will face Serbia, who are still last with one point.
Best of Denmark – England
The English were unable to secure group victory early in their duel with Denmark at the European Football Championship in Germany on Thursday. The “Three Lions” could only manage a 1:1 draw in Frankfurt. This means that the race for the promotion places in Group C remains open.
Southgate changes his habit
When the line-ups were read out in Frankfurt’s Waldstadion, the English fans at least couldn’t believe their ears. The eleven that was called up was very recognizable: it was the same as in the 1-0 victory over Serbia. Team boss Gareth Southgate had never sent the same eleven onto the field twice in a row in the 16 games before. There was one change for the Danes: Joakim Maehle replaced Alexander Bah.
AP/Darko Vojinovic Bukayo Saka (l.) and England had to share the points with Victor Kristiansen and his Danes
The match was not only about setting the course in the fight for a place in the round of 16, but from the Danish perspective it was also about revenge. Three years ago, the English had defeated “Danish Dynamite” 2-1 in extra time in the European Championship semi-final at Wembley Stadium, thus ending a Danish fairytale after the drama surrounding Christian Eriksen – the key word being cardiac arrest. The Danes also had to make amends for the 1-1 draw against Slovenia at the start of this year’s European Championship on their to-do list.
Mistake brings England lead
In front of the eyes of the Danish King Frederik X and Prince William, heir to the throne of the United Kingdom, the Danes knocked on the door for the first time after just 23 seconds in the form of Pierre-Emile Höjberg, but England controlled the game. The first English shot on goal therefore required a solo effort from Phil Foden, who got into shooting position with an elegant hook in the box. The Premier League player of the year can finish better, however (13th).
The possession of the ball spoke a clear English language, but the “Three Lions” searched in vain for a gap in the deep Danish defense. A loss of the ball by Victor Kristiansen, who had not noticed the onrushing Kyle Walker, which fell into the category of a gift, undid the Scandinavians’ work so far. The Englishman stole the ball from the Dane, passed it to the middle, and Kane scored his first goal of the tournament (18th).
Kane scores the lead
The English striker was on hand after a Danish defensive error and scored the 1-0 goal in the 18th minute.
Danes punish passivity
The Danes now had to do more for the game and tried to break down the English defensive wall. Also because, as against Serbia, the English did not really push for a second goal, but limited themselves to the bare minimum – in other words: keep Denmark away from the goal. Except for a brief moment of shock for the English when Eriksen was able to steal the ball from goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, but the English defense was on guard (29′).
But the passivity of the English, which goalkeeper Pickford in particular did not like, received the “just” punishment – in the form of a dream goal. Morten Hjulmand, who played for FC Admira in this country from 2018 to 2021, shot from around 35 meters and pushed the ball into the goal via the post (34th minute). Pickford’s flying effort was for the gallery.
In the end, the Everton goalkeeper had to be happy that this was the only goal conceded before half-time. The game now belonged to the Danes. Pickford was there to stop a header from Joachim Andersen (39′). The only result for England was a long-range shot from Phil Foden (41′).
APA/AFP/Kirill Kudryavtsev Pickford stretched in vain to save Hjulmand’s long-range shot
Rice is unlucky with post shot
Whether it had been loud in the English dressing room during the break was something that was hard to tell from the Three Lions’ game. Denmark were much more ambitious. It was only after ten minutes that England woke up and increased the pace. A fact that the fans from the island celebrated with chants of “England, England”.
Declan Rice had the chance to make it 2-1, but the ball bounced back into the field after the Arsenal player’s hammer (56′). The Danes also didn’t hold back, but Eriksen had his sights set very poorly on another long-range shot (64′).
Foden hits the post
The player of the last season of the English Premier League was unlucky with a shot that hit the post shortly after the break (56th).
Even though the English had a little more of the game, the match remained open. Ollie Watkins, 19-times goalscorer for Aston Villa this season, had the chance to take the lead again with his first touch of the ball, but Schmeichel passed the test (71st minute). Denmark were particularly dangerous with long-range shots. Ask Höjberg, who forced Pickford to make a save (77th minute).
A mistake by Marc Guehi even gave the 1992 European champions a match point, but Alexander Bah hesitated too long and Guehi, Oliver Glasner’s protégé at Crystal Palace, cleaned up his mistake himself – and thus ultimately secured the draw and the half-successful revenge from Denmark’s point of view.
Voices about the game:
Kasper Hjulmand (Denmark coach): “We played a good game in which we believed in victory. Against England, the players showed a lot of fire and passion. We did exactly what was necessary in a game like this, we delivered for 90 minutes.”
Gareth Southgate (England coach): “It certainly wasn’t as good as we had imagined. We had problems controlling the game, which led to a nervous performance. That has to change if we want to progress in this tournament. We have to put more pressure on our opponents than in the first two games. At the moment, our game flow is not as we would like.”
Harry Kane (England goalscorer): “There are no easy games at a major event, as we have seen. We can be better – with and without the ball. It is a sign of a good team not to put in the best performance and still get a result. We have to stay calm, analyse and collect ourselves. Step by step we will get there.”
UEFA EURO 2024, Group A, second matchday
Wednesday:
Denmark – England 1:1 (1:1)
Frankfurt, SR Soares Dias (POR)
Tore:
0:1 Kane (18.)
1:1 Wheelman (34.)
Denmark: Schmeichel – Andersen, Christensen, Vestergaard – Maehle, Hjulmand (82./Nörgaard), Höjbjerg, Kristiansen (57./Bah) – Eriksen (82./Skov Olsen) – Höjlund (67./Poulsen), Wind (57./ Damsgaard)
England: Pickford – Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier – Alexander-Arnold (54./Gallagher), Rice – Saka (70./Eze), Bellingham, Foden (69./Bowen) – Kane (69./Watkins)
Yellow cards: Vestergaard, Mähle, Nörgaard and Gallagher
