A memorable night in Copenhagen for Denmark as they beat Russia at home 4-1, and finished second in group B under Belgium.
Round of 16 ✅
🇩🇰 Congratulations, Denmark! 🎉#EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/WHuCNnoipY
— UEFA EURO (@UEFAEURO) June 21, 2021
A must-win match for Danish footballers since they had lost both their initial matches at the Euro 2020. Their previous group stage match ended 2-1 in favour of their opponent Belgium, following a 1-0 loss against Finland. Denmark had faced Russians only once in an official fixture in which they lost 2-0 in 2012, before Monday’s 4-1 victory.
Christian Eriksen’s surprise visit to the team at the Euro 2020 camp, after he was discharged from the hospital with a successful operation, really turned up in a positive response for Denmark as they qualified for the knock out stages.
Denmark produce the performance of their lives to qualify for the #EURO2020 knockout stages 🇩🇰
And they did it for Christian Eriksen ❤️ pic.twitter.com/qo9p58lCRH
— GOAL (@goal) June 21, 2021
Russia was good until the Danish winger, Mikkel Damsgaard who played a huge role in Denmark’s remarkable win, opened up from the edge of the area, with a fine curling shot at minute 38′ of the first half. It ended 1-0 before the half-time whistle.
🇩🇰 Remember the name! Mikkel Damsgaard = youngest ever EURO finals scorer for Denmark (20 years, 353 days) 👏#EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/c4rvuJ6ceO
— UEFA EURO (@UEFAEURO) June 21, 2021
Then came Bundesliga striker Yussuf Poulsen, who snatched Russia’s Roman Zobnin’s wrong backpass and turned it in favour for Denmark. Russia fought for revenge and took the opponent’s clean sheet with the penalty they won at the 70th minute of the game when Artem Dzyuba made it 2-1.
Ten minutes after conceding, Chelsea’s Andreas Christensen came back with a cracker at 80th minute followed by Joakim Maehke, who then with his right foot made it 4-1 to the nearest post for Denmark within two minutes at 82′. Premier League centre-back Andreas was awarded as Star of the Match for his defensive role in the midfield and a rocket goal.
🇩🇰 Defended well, stepped into midfield when needed and scored a vital goal. Andreas Christensen 👏@Heineken | #EUROSOTM | #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/VbtRMiDXK2
— UEFA EURO (@UEFAEURO) June 21, 2021
Christensen dedicated his goal to his teammate Christian Eriksen who had collapsed during their opener against Finland.
Andreas Christensen dedicated THAT goal to Christian Eriksen ❤️ pic.twitter.com/B5sID5Du6c
— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 21, 2021