The essential
- Five days after Christian Eriksen’s serious discomfort, Denmark led for a long time against Belgium, but gave in in the second half (2-1).
- The early goal of Yussuf Poulsen (2nd) and the vibrant tribute paid to Eriksen therefore preceded the one-man-show of Kevin de Bruyne. Entered at the break, the Manchester City midfielder cracked an assist for Thorgan Hazard (54th) and a splendid goal (70th).
- With 6 points, Belgium is qualified for the round of 16. Denmark, the only team in Group B without points, have not yet been eliminated. Russia will have to be beaten on the last day to hope.
The game
FINISHED ! Belgium wins in pain in Denmark (2-1) and qualifies for the knockout stages of Euro 2021.
90th + 5 ′ (1-2). Miller ??? It is saved in extremis! Mounted on the free kick of the last chance, Schmeichel jumps but the Belgians counter. Meunier tries a shot from midfield, without a goalkeeper in the cage. The Danish defense intervenes.
90th + 4 ′ (1-2). Last good free kick for Denmark and logical yellow card for Thorgan Hazard. The Belgian fingered Norgaard on the hip.
90e+2′ (1-2). Belgium are now trying to keep the ball to avoid the Danish furia.
90e+1′ (1-2). 5 minutes minimum additional time are decreed by Björn Kuipers.
89′ (1-2). JENSEN !!! Served by a raging Braithwaite, the entering advances then attempts a strike before entering the box. His big shot goes over Courtois’ goal.
87 ′ (1-2). THE BAR FOR DENMARK! BRAITHWAITE LACK OF SUCCESS! Perfectly served by the incoming Skov Olsen, with a cross from the right, the Barça striker flies over the Belgian defense and places an uncrossed header. It takes the crossbar and it comes out! What a thrill on Courtois’ goal.
85′ (1-2). Offensive change for Denmark: Skov Olsen replaces Vestergaard.
84 ′ (1-2). Another thrill in the Belgian defense! Cornelius crosses from the left wing. Braithwaite is close to being able to take it back by throwing himself.
82′ (1-2). Yellow card for Mathias Jensen, at fault on Tielemans.
81′ (1-2). Recovered, Courtois is forced to come out in front of Braithwaite. The Danish public whistle because they believe that the goalkeeper touched the ball with his hands out of bounds while sliding. It is not so.
78 ′ (1-2). Courtois remains on the ground. The Real Madrid goalkeeper appears to have been hit in the left knee.
75 ′ (1-2). Denmark still believes in it! Cornelius serves Braithwaite, who attempts a left strike as he enters the box. It is captured by Courtois.
73′ (1-2). How hard it is for Denmark, who dominated for nearly 55 minutes. But the Belgian individualities really make the difference.
70 ′ (1-2). BUUUUUUUUUT FOR BELGIUM! FROM BRUYNE, WHAT A ENTRY! In just 25 minutes, De Bruyne signed an assist and a goal. But what a goal, and what coaching! The City midfielder relies on a pass from Eden Hazard from the right, and unleashes a huge strike from the left at the entrance to the box. It’s powerful, and beyond Schmeichel’s reach. 2-1, Belgium (or rather De Bruyne) returned Denmark.
69′ (1-1). Yellow card for Damsgaard, who simulated to try to get a penalty against Thomas Meunier.
65′ (1-1). De Bruyne really brings something new to Belgium. A new cross sends a thrill to the Danish goal, but no one can catch it.
62′ (1-1). Double change also for Denmark: the striker Poulsen gives way to Norgaard, and Larsen replaces Wass.
60 ′ (1-1). Double change for Belgium, who wants better than a draw now: Eden Hazard replaces Carrasco, and Witsel replaces Dendoncker.
59′ (1-1). The first yellow card of the game is for Daniel Wass, guilty of a late tackle on Thomas Meunier.
57′ (1-1). Denmark is trying to revive, but it is less successful than before. De Bruyne’s entry brought a hint of mastery.
54′ (1-1). GOOD FOR BELGIUM! Thorgan Hazard puts the two teams on a par! Launched again on the right wing, Romelu Lukaku infiltrates, and serves De Bruyne to the right of the surface. The Manchester City midfielder plays with two defenders on a control then crosses perfectly at the far post for Thorgan Hazard, who concludes quietly.
52′ (1-0). As in the first period, the rare balls touched by Romelu Lukaku are difficult to negotiate. On this action, the Belgian striker loses his duel on the right side with Vestergaard.
50′ (1-0). Courtois takes risks! Yet quiet, the Belgian goalkeeper tries to bring out the ball alone. He is finally endangered by the Danish pressing, and emerges in a mess!
48′ (1-0). Delaney? It’s next to ! The Danish midfielder advances full axis, far from being caught by the Belgian defense, and tries a cross strike from the left. It misses quite clearly, but Belgium is still suffering as much.
46′ (1-0). HERE WE GO AGAIN ! Belgium has 45 minutes to avoid a misstep, facing a united Denmark team that is much more dangerous in the first act.
19:03. A big change on the Belgian side at the break: Kevin de Bruyne replaces Dries Mertens! We were waiting for KDB to come home, but not so soon. Mertens pays the missed start of his team.
HALF TIME! Denmark logically leads 1-0 at the break against an apathetic Belgium. Yussuf Poulsen, signing a superb cross strike from the 2nd minute, paid a magnificent tribute to Christian Eriksen, still in hospital since his heart failure. This goal also puts the Danes back in the race for the round of 16, virtually tied with their three opponents.
44′ (1-0). Helplessness, helplessness … Carrasco kicks a free kick from the right wing, but the ball goes … directly out of goal.
41′ (1-0). Even Lukaku can’t help it right now. Launched full axis, the striker of the Red Devils impales himself on the Danish defense.
38′. (1-0). The stat that hurts: Denmark has already shot 8 times, against a single attempt for Belgium …
35 ′ (1-0). What an opportunity for Denmark! Above in this first period, the Danes show themselves again. Damsgaard made fun of Vertonghen and Thorgan Hazard to place a left strike. It touches the frame!
32′ (1-0). Succession of corners for Belgium, which gives nothing. Like a symbol.
29′ (1-0). Maehle, untenable, is mown down by Dendoncker near the surface. Wass takes care of this free kick on the left side, and it is cleared by the Belgian defense.
26 ′ (1-0). Wass for typing! While we thought the Belgians were back on track, they let the former Evian-Thonon-Gaillard interfere in the axis and place a floating strike of the right at the entrance to the surface. It goes over.
23′ (1-0). Finally, Belgium sets foot on the ball. Roberto Martinez’s men regained control with a well-oiled pressing and thanks to their technical mastery.
20′ (1-0). New Danish center, this time directed by Hojbjerg. The Belgian exchanges seize it and get out.
17′ (1-0). Maehle, decidedly elusive, overflows again and crosses towards Braithwaite, who places a header off target.
14′ (1-0). Belgium is taking water. Braithwaite leaves on the left and strolls the Belgian defense. Fortunately for the Red Devils, his center is pushed back by the defense.
11 ′. (1-0). As expected, the Danes and Belgians took the ball into touch for a minute to pay tribute to Danish number 10 Christian Eriksen. Total emotion in the stadium, and on the face of Lukaku, his teammate at Inter Milan.
8′. (1-0). New opportunity for Denmark. Maehle, again, crosses, and Wass heads up again. Courtois quietly captures.
5 ′. (1-0). Denmark sets fire to the Belgian defense! Maehle impels a movement, and it is pushed back in extremis by the rearguard of the Red Devils!
2 ′. (1-0). GOOD FOR DENMARK! Mute against Finland, Denmark marks entry. Denayer misses his recovery, Hojbjerg takes advantage and serves Poulsen full axis, who strikes from the entry of the area. His shot from the right goes into the small left net. 1-0 for Denmark.
1 ′. LET’S GO ! The Danes kick off the game.
17h55. Five minutes from kick-off, the two nations make their entrance on the lawn of Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, in a magnificent atmosphere to support Christian Eriksen and their team, more united than ever. The referee of the meeting is the Dutch Björn Kuipers, very experienced.
17h50. Note that the Belgian players will kick the ball into touch, in the 10th minute of this meeting, to support Christian Eriksen, the usual number 10 of this Danish team. A nice gesture announced by Romelu Lukaku, his teammate at Inter Milan, before the game.
17h45. In the event of victory, Belgium can join Italy within the clan of the teams qualified for the knockout stages. This sharing of points between the pursuers of the Red Devils benefits them, and they could have a 3-point lead (and a much better goal difference), tonight, on the second in the group.
17h40. On the lawn now, the sporting stakes are high for Denmark. Surprised at the restart (the meeting was restarted in the 43rd minute, after the Eriksen incident) of their match against Finland (1-0), Denmark is the only team in Group B without a point. Russia indeed defeated Finland (1-0) on Wednesday.
17h35. But, still on the subject of Christian Eriksen, the Danish Football Federation announced this Thursday morning that a suitable medical device will be applied to him. A subcutaneous cardiac defibrillator will indeed be implanted in the player, in order to be able to monitor and regulate his cardiac activity. This does not mean the end of his career, however: the Dutchman Daley Blind is playing the Euro with this system.
17h30. Beyond the sporting aspect, this meeting will be especially charged with emotion. Only five days ago, in the same place, the leader of the Danish team Christian Eriksen suffered a serious heart attack, before long minutes of fear. Fortunately, the Inter Milan midfielder is now in stable condition.
17h25. On the Belgian side, coach Roberto Martinez is lining up his typical team of the moment. Kevin de Bruyne, back from injury, starts on the bench, just like Eden Hazard. La composition de la Belgique : Courtois – Alderweireld, Denayer, Vertonghen – Meunier, Tielemans, Dendoncker, T. Hazard – Mertens, Lukaku, Carrasco.
17h20. We begin this pre-game with the starting 11. On the Danish side, the star Christian Eriksen is obviously absent following his heart failure, which occurred against Finland in the opening. The makeup of Denmark : Schmeichel – Christensen, Kjaer, Vestergaard, Maehle – Wass, Hojbjerg, Delaney – Poulsen, Damsgaard, Braithwaite.
17h15. Good evening everyone and welcome to our site to follow live the match between Denmark and Belgium, counting for the second day of Group B of Euro 2021. Kick-off scheduled for 6 pm at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen.
