Denmark 0-0 England
Denmark held England to a draw in tonight’s UEFA Nations League clash at the Parken Stadium as Gareth Southgate’s Lions made it four points from their opening two games.
The result leaves the Danes on a single point and they are yet to score a goal, having lost their opener to Belgium, but they had the better of this match.
The Three Lions stumbled past Iceland in their opening fixture, winning with a late penalty. They were slow to get into their stride again tonight, but they almost snatched a winner at the death, and that would have been very hard on their hosts.
Highlights of the game
England simply weren’t at the races in the first half as Denmark took control of the game. In the early exchanges, Nice striker Kasper Dolberg had the better of England debutant Conor Coady and found space to take a pot shot at goal, but he fired it over the bar.
Daniel Wass sent a cross in which almost fell to Yussuf Poulsen, but Liverpool centre-back Joe Gomez hoofed the ball clear as the hosts continued to show more attacking intent.
This Denmark team has plenty of class about it, with players from each of the top European leagues. Barcelona’s Martin Braithwaite was next to make a mark, controlling a headed clearance from Coady, then sidestepping England’s other new boy, Kalvin Phillips, before firing a shot just wide of the far post.
As half-time approached Christian Eriksen made easy work of beating Eric Dier before sliding the ball into the path of Dolberg, who got a fierce shot away. But this time it was too close to Jordan Pickford, who managed to palm the ball to safety.
That save took England to half-time still level, but the hosts would have felt they should have been ahead against a team bereft of ideas.
The visitors started a little more brightly in the second half, but after a brief spell on the back foot Denmark came out on the attack again. Eriksen fed Robert Skov who fired a dangerous cross in but Gomez was there to clear his lines again. Thomas Delaney then unleashed a shot from distance straight at Pickford.
The Danes were sniffing a goal, but desperation set in when Eriksen smashed a 35-yard free-kick over the bar.
England skipper Harry Kane hadn’t seen much of the ball and was struggling to eke out a chance. He did get his head to a Mason Mount cross but he couldn’t hit the target.
That finally seemed to spark England into life and Raheem Sterling cut in from the left flank before testing Kasper Schmeichel with a fizzing low shot.
On 81 minutes Denmark had a glorious chance to win it when Poulsen met a cross from Wass and nodded it back to Eriksen on the penalty spot, but the Inter man blasted his shot over the bar.
Kane almost snatched another late win deep into stoppage time when Schmeichel rushed out and missed his catch. The Spurs man slid the ball towards goal but it was cleared off the line.
Key statistics
Our pre-match Denmark vs England betting tips had the draw at odds of 3.50, and by the end of the game that was just about right.
Without the youthful zest of Mason Greenwood and Phil Foden, both axed for breaching COVID rules, England were as flat as a pancake in the first half, registering just one shot to Denmark’s five and the Lions had just four touches in the opposition penalty area.
The visitors improved in the second half but lost the shot count by 11 to six, and they will be happy to return home with a point.
What’s next?
In tonight’s other UEFA Nations League 2020 results the big news from Group A2 was that Belgium came back from a goal down to hammer Iceland 5-1, which takes the Red Devils to the top of the group.
The Nations League resumes again in a month’s time when England take on Belgium at Wembley Stadium on 11th October and Iceland host Denmark in Reykjavík.
Before that the big leagues in Europe start again, so keep an eye out for the latest SBOTOP tips in the Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A.
The transfer market is in full swing too, so now is not the time to take your eyes off the fantastic world of football!
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