Emotions run high as sensational Danes set up Wales clash
Hans Christian Andersen loves a fairytale but the master himself couldn’t have made this one up.
It was an emotional night in Copenhagen. Parken Stadium, packed to the rafters and a sea of red, was a cacophony of noise throughout, urging the Danes to victory. Christian Eriksen wasn’t there in person but he was central to everyone’s thoughts.
When the final whistle went, there were cheer and tears of joy. Forced to play on at Euro 2020 in wake of Christian Eriksen’s collapse, the Danes summoned the tenacity to rebound, roared on by an incredible home support.
Denmark’s emphatic victory over Russia on a frantic, incredible night in Copenhagen sets up a last-16 tie with Wales.
The Parken Stadium was electric before kick-off as fans sang a passionate national anthem but it was nothing compared to the scenes at full-time.
Players and staff were huddled in the centre of the pitch waiting for confirmation of Belgium's victory over Finland and there was an almighty roar when the result came through.
Knowing they needed to win and hoping that Belgium could beat Finland, the hosts did not hold back and the scenes of celebration at the end will remain one of this tournament’s abiding memories.
Mikkel Damsgaard, the 20-year-old Sampdoria forward who has had the unenviable task of stepping into Eriksen’s boots after the opening game, set the stage alight with an exquisite long-range opener.
Cutting in from the left, he shifted the ball out of his feet at the edge of the box and caressed the ball beautifully into the top corner. Parken erupted.
Damsgaard’s performance was a joy to behold again.
Yussuf Poulsen then put Denmark 2-0 up, pouncing on a poor backpass from Roman Zobnin before Artem Dzyuba got one back for Russia from the penalty spot.
Chelsea's Andreas Christensen then scored with a strike from 25 yards so powerful it seemed as though it had sucked into the net by the fans.
In a rampant three minutes, Denmarkconfirmedtheirprogression to the knockout stages when Joakim Maehle made it 4-1.
Denmark needed a victory and they delivered for the fans, Damsgaard kicking things off with a moment of magic, becoming the country's youngest goalscorer at a major tournament in the process.
Poulsen was drenched in beer and thrown into the air by supporters near the goal when
he netted Denmark's second and though Dzyuba's spot-kick created a moment of anxiety, it did not last long.
Denmark bombarded the
Russian goal – keeper Matvey Safonov making a number of stunning saves – before Christensen's thumping strike erupted the stadium once
more. Maehle's composed finish capped it off and now Denmark head into the last 16 full of confidence with Wales awaiting next on Saturday.