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Published: June 26, 2021 7:59 pm
Last Updated: June 26, 2021 8:04 pm
Euro 2020 is turning into a summer to remember for Denmark as De rød-hvide became the first side to reach the quarterfinals after thrashing 2016 semi-finalists Wales 4-0 at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam.
Everyone is enjoying Denmark’s Euro journey.
Beautiful ❤️?? pic.twitter.com/cubLBrJRs5
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) June 26, 2021
Former Ajax wonderkid Kasper Dolberg, now plying his trade with Ligue 1 outfit OGC Nice, bagged a brace to put the Danes 2-0 up just three minutes into the second half after his well-struck effort opened the scoring on 27-minutes. Standout right-back Joakim Mæhle, who has turned heads all summer, made it 3-0 after shimmying away from Tottenham’s Ben Davies before rifling a close-range effort to beat Danny Ward at his near post. Barcelona’s Martin Braithwaite added a fourth when he slotted home low into the far corner after being put through from a lovely lay-off from Parma’s Andreas Cornelius.
Denmark has undergone a much-needed revamped approach under Kasper Hjulmand and now has tangible results to back the quiet excitement that surrounded the team coming into the tournament, with the Danes now reaching the quarterfinals at the Euro for the first time since 2004. The spirit of 1992 is alive and well with this group, and Kasper Dolberg’s brace being the first time a Dane has scored two goals in the knockout stage since their storied European Championship win is yet another feel-good moment to savor.
Doing it for Christian
It is incredible to think that just fourteen days ago, captain and Danish footballing icon Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest during their opening group stage fixture against Finland. After being resuscitated on the pitch by the first-responder and teammate Simon Kjær and medical personnel, Eriksen is alive and recovering well after heart surgery.
While there is no telling if Eriksen will play football again or not, the inspiration received by his teammates – and a nation behind them – has spurned this talented group of players to want to upset the script this summer.
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK – JUNE 12: Christian Eriksen of Denmark gestures during the UEFA EURO 2020 Group B match between Denmark and Finland at Parken Stadium on June 12, 2021 in Copenhagen, Denmark. (Photo by Lars Ronbog / FrontZoneSport via Getty Images)
Despite the influence both on (top ten all-time for Denmark in caps and goals) and off the pitch that Eriksen has brought to the national side – and the nation as a whole – since making his full debut back in 2010, Denmark’s level of play has hardly missed a step without him in the XI. The rise in prominence of Sampdoria’s Mikkel Damsgaard in his place, one of many talented young Danes coming to light of late, has been delightful to watch. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, so often associated with a deeper role for Tottenham in the Premier League, has stepped into the creative role incredibly well, filling the void left by Eriksen and at current his three assists have him tied with Switzerland’s Steven Zuber on the top of the assist table.
With a clash against the winner of the Netherlands or the Czech Republic to come at Baku’s Olympic Stadium on July 3rd, it would be fitting if Denmark ousted a Dutch outfit that was one of only three nations to win all three group stage matches, the same nation they defeated on penalties in the semi-finals of Euro ’92 before winning the tournament four days later. Will 1992 remain a distant memory? Not if this group has anything to say about it.
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