– It is a relief. We were under pressure towards the end, says Christian Eriksen to news shortly after the end of the match against Serbia. The Danes’ captain had to dig deep. You also had to do that in order to finally find out who ended up as runners-up in Group C. Both the points, the goal difference, the number of goals scored and the head-to-head matches were dead even between the Slovenians and the Danes. In the end it was the number of yellow cards that separated who would be number two and three. It was supposed to be a thriller ending in group C, but the EC was waiting for something that never came. Two goalless games sends Denmark on. Tough opposition In the end, it was a yellow card for Slovenia assistant Milivoje Novaković that was supposed to mean that the Danes hijacked second place. Both teams had six yellow cards distributed among the players during the EC group stage, but the rules for separating teams also include yellow/red cards for the support team. Slovenia thus ended with one more yellow card than Denmark. If they had also ended the same on yellow and red cards, then the last of a total of nine steps would then have been to go back to European Championship qualification. There, in the autumn of 2023, Denmark won their group ahead of Slovenia in a head-to-head matchup. – I don’t know who is number two and three now, but it doesn’t matter to us. It doesn’t matter who we play against, because this is already a great success for us. We are just looking forward to playing another game, says Slovenia’s goalkeeper-captain Jan Oblak to news. But even though the Danes took second place, that does not mean that it is exclusively positive. Because in the round of 16 they meet host nation Germany. – It will be an exciting and hard match, but now we will evaluate this match tomorrow, says Kasper Schmeichel to news. Nor did Joakim Mæhle seem frightened by the opposition: – I don’t know if it is an advantage for us to face Germany now, but if you want to win tournaments, you have to win against everyone. Whether they come now, in the quarters or the semi-finals – we have to win regardless. Slovenia also advanced as one of the top four group runners-up. Who will be their opponent is not yet clear. Christian Eriksen was voted best on the field in a match where nothing happened. Photo: AP – I’m proud that we’re moving on, of course we could have had a few more wins. We have a chance to bring even more, says Eriksen. With Tuesday’s match, he became the most international matches in Denmark’s history with 133 counting matches. Daff match In Munich, it was Denmark who controlled the match completely, but against a compact Serbia team there was little traffic in front of the goal. When 23 minutes had been played, the ball did indeed go into the net after Wind won a corner kick, but it was correctly canceled as the cross had crossed the dead line on its way into the field. Just before, Christian Eriksen fired a solid shot from around 20 meters which Serbia goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic just managed to beat away. Otherwise, the 1st half was an ever-so-big yawn. A match with very little entertainment value, although the nerve was constantly present. Kasper Hjulmand also had to be in control of the Danes’ yellow cards. Photo: AFP Defended in That tendency continued in the second half, but then the Danes also showed more desperation. On several occasions, the ball was hit into the field, only for it to be put back into the return area. Because the ball was then knocked up in row X. – I think we have very good control in the first half. But it is clear that when they replace new players on the pitch, it will be a slightly different match, comments Schmeichel to news. The Serbs had very little to contend with, with the exception of a marginal offside cancellation. Luka Jovic provoked the Danes to put the ball in their own net, but it was correctly cleared. Denmark-Serbia was exciting despite little happening in front of the two goals. Photo: THOMAS KIENZLE / AFP The Danes knew they had advanced if they held Serbia to a draw, and the game showed in the final minutes. – They had one shot from Christian Eriksen and a chance at a corner – otherwise there was little, says news expert Åge Hareide about Denmark. He continues: – They are good with the ball, but they haven’t been able to make the final decision so far in the tournament. Published 25.06.2024, at 22.54 Updated 26.06.2024, at 09.34
ttn-69
Denmark further from the group stage in the EC – Football EC 2024
