LAST UPDATE | 20 Jun 2024
ENGLAND FAILED TO guarantee their place in the knockout stages of Euro 2024 after Morten Hjulmand’s spectacular strike earned Denmark a 1-1 draw on Thursday.
A point was the least the Danes deserved as England again flattered to deceive in Frankfurt after an underwhelming 1-0 win over Serbia to open their tournament.
Harry Kane had given the Three Lions an early lead as England pounced on a Danish defensive error.
Hjulmand’s rocket from outside the box levelled before half-time and Denmark were left to rue missing late chances to secure a famous victory.
England remain on top of Group C, two points clear of Slovenia, who they face in Cologne on Tuesday, and Denmark.
Serbia’s late equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Slovenia earlier on Thursday also keeps their destiny in their own hands.
England boss Gareth Southgate said on Wednesday that he avoids media coverage during tournaments to escape negative stories, but will be braced for more criticism after another flat display from one of the pre-tournament favourites.
Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand and goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel claimed on the eve of the game they would not be fuelled by revenge for their Euro 2020 semi-final heartbreak to England three years ago.
However, the Danes were a different beast from the side that disappointed at the 2022 World Cup and in drawing against Slovenia to open their tournament in Germany.
Denmark had made the brighter start as both sides struggled to cope with a bobbly pitch in Frankfurt that cut up badly in just its second game of five at Euro 2024.
Yet, England capitalised on a howler from Hjulmand’s men to take the lead on 18 minutes.
Victor Kristiansen was caught unaware of Kyle Walker’s run down the right and his deflected low cross fell perfectly for Kane to roll in his 13th goal at major tournaments.
🇩🇰 0-1 🏴
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 20, 2024
18' Kane takes full advantage after Walker catches Danish defender Kristiansen napping. An early lead for England
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Failing to build on early 1-0 leads has been a consistent criticism of England under Southgate.
In the 2018 World Cup semi-final and final of Euro 2020, Croatia and Italy were able to wrestle away momentum from the Three Lions.
This time Denmark were not deterred by conceding, although it took a spectacular strike to bring them level.
Hjulmand was given far too much room by the England midfield to take aim but he took full advantage form long range with a blistering shot that clipped the inside of the post on its way in.
🇩🇰 1-1 🏴
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 20, 2024
34' Hjulmand bags a deserved equaliser for Denmark wiuth a cracking low strike from distance
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Southgate made no changes at the break, but the future of his experiment of playing Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold in a midfield role is in doubt after he was hooked for Conor Gallagher on 55 minutes.
Phil Foden’s form for England had been a source of much debate after he again failed to shine at international level against Serbia.
The Manchester City playmaker looked much more like the man that won Premier League player of the year awards this season and was inches away from restoring England’s lead with a low drive that came crashing back off the post.
Southgate’s caution has been criticised in the past, but he was bold with his changes in the search for a winner as Kane, Foden and Bukayo Saka were sacrificed for Eberechi Eze, Ollie Watkins and Jarrod Bowen.
Watkins nearly made an immediate impact as he was denied by Schmeichel after a brilliant through ball from Jude Bellingham.
Yet, it was Denmark who had the better chances to take all three points in the closing stages.
Andreas Christensen spooned over when unmarked from a corner before Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg curled inches wide.
Earlier, Luka Jovic snatched a last-gasp equaliser for Serbia in a 1-1 draw with Slovenia.
Slovenia looked on course for their first ever win at the tournament after Zan Karnicnik put them ahead in the second half, but Jovic headed in a corner in the fifth minute of stoppage time to haul Serbia level.
Slovenia are on two points from two games in Group C going into their clash with England on Tuesday, while Serbia have one point ahead of their final match in the section against Denmark.
When we hear time & time again that Ireland don’t have the players and then look at Slovenia, Georgia and Albania all competing well and more than holding their own in this tournament. Many of their players are playing at a lower level than ours. I also suspect that none of their managers or coaching staff are on big money either. This just highlights once more, if needed, what an absolute mess the FAI are in and their inability to run the organization. So frustrating!
@Rory O’Connor: what does that have to do with today’s game
@Rory O’Connor: lower level is relative… given the overhyped nature of the English football leagues I’d be wary of saying its a higher level… after all zero English teams in semis this year of champions league similar in the europa… frankly it’s not a surprise that even the best English players now play outside. English leagues do zero to develop talent they have had more money than sense for years ! Best thing we could do is set up a national program for underage talent and try and keep them at home rather than going straight to England when a Chesterfield or someone offers them a first contract
@Rory O’Connor: ah here.
No other country has a sport like the GAA to compete with. In most countries 90 out of 100 kids will choose soccer as a first choice sport. In ireland its a lot closer, probably 50/50 with the GAA.
@WFVedF99: and the GAA hound 40 of the other 50 until they give up the footy.
@WFVedF99: No other country in Europe you mean? Correct?
@Setanta O’Toole: rubbish, it’s the other way round if anything, soccer clubs in Dublin training U10s 4/5 nights a week to leave no room for other sports.
@Michael Kennedy: theres a little place outside dublin called Ireland, you might have heard of it.
How about “Denmark held by lacklustre England”?
England have some fantastic players and still they play like that couldent even pass the ball to each other shocking performance
Couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch.
England pure shocking but they hook Trent at 50 minutes just to try and make him look the fall guy for the second half. Bellingham, Saka and Foden all poor yet nothing will be said about them. How Trent wants anything to do with England is beyond me.
It’s all going south. Shut the gate on your way out Gareth.
The brits aren’t at it again. They are some dull, dull, side. Christ.
Useless pr1(ks…
@Ben F: very mature. Enjoy your hols in Trabolgan when primary school finishes next week
@Angles MacManus: trabolgan is a grand spot. Class wave machine.
@Angles MacManus: Haha is it still coming home?
@tbEE5DMm: No
Southgate is a terrible manager. These players light up the Premier leage and all they do under Southgate is pass back. They were awful.
Hope Arne Slot was watching. The big positive from England’s performance is that the TAA midfield experiment does not work and now Slot does not have to put Liverpools start to the new season at risk by putting TAA in midfield. Slot needs to send Southgate some flowers and a thank you card.
@Ger Power: never plays there for Liverpool properly. Thought he would’ve worked better with Watkins Bowen Eze when they came on and run for him to pick out. Trent wasn’t their only problem today. Bellingham Foden and Kane very poor
@Ollie Watson: absolutely. It was the same after the first game, people having a go at Trent when there’s absolutely nobody to pass the ball to. Foden, Saka and Kane have been flat useless. Rice very poor too. Watkins, Bowen and Eze would work better, or Gordon. At least there would be some movement
@Michael Mullins: exactly lad. Trent with their most chances made and passes through the lines today. Easy scapegoat
@Ollie Watson: yes TAA will be the the easy scapegoat maybe unfairly so given the lack of moving options ahead of him but I still don’t think he can be the world class midfielder that Liverpool and England need. Who knows if Slot is even considering him for midfield.
Haha. Is it still coming home?
Demark was frustrated that they should have won the game. That’s a fact!
Mainoo should b first name on that England team sheet all day every day.
Have to laugh here at all the Pool fans standing up for Trent…such an inferiority complex…you’d think they take the summer off from the “Pool pilgrimage”
You would think against these weaker teams they would play Trent at left back. Then have Wharten in CM.