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Defensive core has been the key to Danish success

Wembley task may just prove beyond Kasper Hjulmand's underdogs

Kasper Schmeichel could help Leicester stand firm at Old Trafford
Kasper Schmeichel could help Leicester stand firm at Old TraffordCredit: Naomi Baker

This game against England means a lot to Denmark. This has been a special tournament for them because of how it started and the way the team has rallied and got themselves out of a group in a dramatic manner.

The trauma of the first match and the medical emergency with Christian Eriksen has created a stronger bond and a stronger empathy between the people and the team than we would normally see – I think it’s had a tangible effect.

Playing England at Wembley is special as well because Scandinavian interest in English football predates its global spread by a long time.

There is an awareness this is a different kettle of fish for Denmark – this is a huge challenge for them.

Denmark have had the third-most shots in the tournament but the main strength is the defensive core of the team.

Kasper Schmeichel is a tremendous goalkeeper - a potential match-winner - and the centre-backs Andreas Christensen, Simon Kjaer and Jannik Vestergaard are very good.

Then there is the midfield two of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Thomas Delaney - that defensive six is really difficult to play against. There are a lot of big, strong men who will make life difficult.

Striker Kasper Dolberg lost his way a little at Ajax and this year his move to Nice hasn't been a big success. He's had health issues but now he looks as though he's found a scoring touch for Denmark.

In this game it will be a question of what happens down the flanks as that is where a lot of Denmark's attacks come from.

Joakim Maehle has been a revelation at left wing-back – it feels bizarre but we’re in the semi-finals and you can actually say out loud that Denmark’s left-back has been possibly the player of the tournament’ without looking ridiculous.

The key battleground, as it often is when a team plays 3-4-3 as Denmark do, will be the space behind the wing backs – that is a problem without an obvious solution in this formation.

We know Denmark are flexible – against Wales when Dan James and Gareth Bale started to threaten, they changed formation and turned it into a 4-3-3 - and that was an indication that coach Kasper Hjulmand has a lot about him.

He has proved a lot of people wrong – Denmark have always seen themselves as the Brazilians of the Nordics and the country that plays good football. Hjulmand taking over was a step in the right direction as he likes Johan Cruyff and Pep Guardiola and is a bit of a dreamer.

This tournament for him has been more about man-management though, and it will be interesting how he approaches the game with England, who have terrifyingly good players.

I think England will go through – they are the better team and Denmark will face opponents who are stronger than what they have faced before - but England will also face some things they haven’t come up against as well.

Denmark can get a goal from somewhere - it could be from a set-piece as the three centre-backs can all handle themselves in the air as can Thomas Delaney.

I wouldn’t be surprised if it went to extra time or penalties – I can see a 2-1 win for England in extra-time.


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Published on 6 July 2021inEuro tips

Last updated 16:26, 6 July 2021

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