Czech Republic v Denmark predictions: Great Danes can march on to last four

Free Euro 2020 football tips, best bets and analysis for Czech Republic v Denmark in the quarter-finals on Saturday.

Where to watch

ITV, 5pm Saturday

Best bet

Denmark
1pt 23-20 Betfair

Denmark are the first team in European Championship history to score four or more goals in successive European Championship games and they should have too much firepower for the Czechs, who have done well to reach the last eight.

Team news

Czech Republic
Left back Jan Boril should slot back in after serving his suspension.

Denmark
Yussuf Poulsen and Daniel Wass are available after fitness issues but Kasper Hjulmand could be reluctant to change a winning team.

Match preview

At Euro 92 Denmark took just one point from their first two games but went on to win the tournament and a similar turnaround in fortunes at Euro 2020 can continue with a quarter-final victory over the Czech Republic in Baku.

For a small nation Denmark have punched above their weight at major tournaments and they are battling to reach the last four of the European Championships for the fourth time in their history.

However, they were at serious risk of an early exit after opening up with defeats against Finland and Belgium.

The manner of their loss to Belgium, in which they won the shot count 23 to six, gave cause for hope and the floodgates opened in the games that followed with Kasper Hjulmand's vibrant side sweeping aside Russia 4-1 and Wales 4-0.

Hjulmand will anticipate a tougher test against the Czechs, who competed well in Group D before stunning the Netherlands in Budapest.

Czech Republic were undoubtedly helped by Matthis De Ligt's 55th-minute red card but they were already playing to a decent level and handled the situation superbly.

Patrik Schick's four goals have turbo-charged the Czech campaign but there has been a lack of threat from other areas of the pitch.

Nobody else in the squad has scored ten times or more at international level and it is probably fair to assume that Czech hopes are largely resting on the Leverkusen forward's shoulders.

Denmark have lacked a star player since Christian Eriksen's collapse but they offer a greater variety of threats.

Left winger Mikkel Damsgaard has sparkled since his stunning goal against Russia, Martin Braithwaite has looked powerful and pacy on the opposite flank, and centre-forward Kasper Dolberg responded to his first start of the tournament with two excellent finishes against Wales.

Denmark had started slowly in the Wales game, but Hjulmand tweaked the system – pushing Andreas Christensen into midfield and switching from a 3-4-3 to a 4-3-3 – and it worked a treat as his team dominated the rest of the contest.

Hjulmand's team have played some decent stuff with different systems and different personnel, and the flexibility and strength of the squad could give them an advantage.

The Czechs have shown themselves to be strong front-runners but when they fell behind against England they seemed to lack the means to respond.

Head coach Jaroslav Silhavy has a very solid, committed first 11 but he lacks the depth of the Danes and that may prove pivotal in a game of fine margins.

Key stat

Denmark have won eight of their last 11 competitive fixtures.

Inside info

Czech Republic

Penalty taker Patrik Schick
Free-kick wizard Vladimir Darida
Set-piece aerial threat Tomas Soucek
Card magnet Tomas Soucek

Denmark

Penalty taker Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
Free-kick wizardMikkel Damsgaard
Set-piece aerial threatSimon Kjaer
Card magnetPierre-Emile Hojbjerg

Lowdown

Venue Olympic Stadium, Baku
Fans allowed 34,935
Time Zone BST +3 hours
Weather Clear skies, max 31C
FIFA rankings Czech Republic (40), Denmark (10)
Head to Head Friendly, November 2016 – Czech Republic 1 Denmark 1; World Cup qualifier, March 2013 – Czech Republic 0 Denmark 3; World Cup qualifier, September 2012 – Denmark 0 Czech Republic 0; Friendly, November 2010 – Denmark 0 Czech Republic 0.

Bet builder

Denmark to win
Dominant victories over Russia and Wales have given the Danes a lot of confidence and their resurgence looks bad news for the Czechs, who may have peaked with their 2-0 success over the Netherlands.

Over two goals
Five of Denmark's last six competitive games have featured at least three goals and there should be no shortage of entertainment in Baku.

Kasper Dolberg to score anytime
The Nice striker exploded on the tournament with Denmark's first two goals against Wales and his finishing skills could be key to defeating the Czechs.

Guide price 11-2

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