LUCKY DANES MAKE PERU PAY PENALTY FOR MISSES

THEY came from the land of Paddington Bear – and were just as adored as the cuddly character on their return to the World Cup after a 36-year absence.

Russian football fans have taken Peru to their hearts on this display and they prayed that they would extend their unbeaten international run against Denmark.

But it was not to be a sweet 16th game without defeat as the Danes brought home the bacon in Saransk.

A Yussuf Poulsen winner sealed a somewhat flimsy victory following a disastrous Peru spot-kick blunder.

Denmark were not impressive by any stretch of the imagination as those famous Peruvian red-sash shirted supporters packed inside the 44,000 Mordovia Arena.

The two teams’ first full international meeting left Denmark looking static, ponderous and puzzled in the face of their flair.

Yoshimar Yotun let fly with an blockbuster held by keeper Kasper Schmeichel in an early warning of what was to come.

Then Schmeichel superbly saved an Andre Carrillo shot which arrowed towards the bottom corner before Peru cranked up the pressure in the 29th minute.

Jefferson Farfan, slipped in by Carrillo, saw his effort deflected wide by a sliding block from Simon Kjaer when your money would have been on Peru opening their account. In the 39th minute Christian Eriksen’s free kick clattered into the wall and substitute Lasse Schone blasted the rebound straight at keeper Pedro Gallese. Peru were fired up, though, seconds before the break when VAR was introduced for a penalty appeal after Poulsen brought down Christian Cueva.

The spot-kick was awarded but as Schmeichel dived to his left, Cueva blasted high into row Z and left the field at half-time in tears.

You expected the nightmare miss to give the Danes a lift but they returned to action again showing little ambition up front.

But just when their 700 followers began to despair, Denmark broke the deadlock in the 59th minute through Poulsen, who finished clinically after being fed by Eriksen.

Schmeichel had to be at his best to keep Peru out on a night when they did themselves proud.