Denmark’s cutting edge makes the difference but Scots show promise
After the disruption of their opening european championship qualifier, there was something reassuringly straightforward about the difficulties associated with this one. This time Scotland simply had to contend with how good Denmark are.
It was never going to be easy, not against the Group I top seeds, but having discovered real strength and depth at this age level, Scot Gemmill was able to revert back to many of his first-choice picks, for the host side’ s latest bid to defy their underdog status.
Ahead of last month’s group match away to turkey there had been nine new faces drafted in after 10 of the original picks, all based in england, were deemed unavailable due to Covid quarantine rules. The fact the Scots, who have not qualified for a under-21 finals since 1996, still managed a draw was an encouraging start and they will have been further bolstered by a performance that, while ultimately not good enough, was strong and competitive.
Gustav Isaksen’s 13th-minute goal, proved the difference between the teams but the fact the visiting side couldn’t build on that early advantage was testament to a promising group of lads, who are still gelling but who also have the belief that they can at the very least bolster the nation’ s standing at this level and pave the way for easy qualification routes in the future.
But, just two games into the campaign, they are in no mood to write it off yet.
Denmark were quicker, smoother, more athletic and imposing. But given the gulf in ranking - Scotland are the pot four team in a group that also includes current leaders Belgium - Gemmill’s side had plenty to be proud of.
The resilience shown after that early lapse, as they dug heels in and found away to rep el their guests, was a positive, as too was the way they worked as a unit to close Denmark down, snapping away at them and ensuring they did not have the opportunity to get into full flow.
In the end, the major difference was the cutting edge shown by the Danes, who were assisted at the goal by some sloppy defensive work as Scotland failed to deal effectively with a throw-in at the halfway line. That was compounded by some questionable goalkeeping as Manchester City’s Cieran Slicker, having made the effort to read the shot and get across his goal seemed to be fooled by an awkward skip off the turf just in front of him.
A learning curve for many of the Scotland players who are new to this level, had they managed to conjure up a little bit more creativity they might have levelled.
Glenn Middleton was on the front foot and wasn’t afraid to probe, as was scott banks when he joined the action. There was a flick er of hope in the final minute when space opened up for Banks who lashed a shot in but the diving Mads Hermansen pushed it away and the Danes reacted well to clear.
Scotland U21: Slicker, Ashby, Welsh, Mayo, Doig (Banks 72), Kelly (High 76), Williamson (Leonard 72), Montgomery (Mebude 56), Burroughs, Fiorini, Middleton. Subs not used: Clayton, Kennedy, Scott, Sinclair, Stretton.
Denmark U21: Hermansen, Carstensen, Hausner, Sery, Kristiansen, Kjaergaard (Tengstedt 85), Nartey, Lindstrom, Isaksen (Bidstrup 85), Jensen (Frendrup 75), Boving Vick (Warming 64). Subs not used: Dyhr, Kaufmann, Pedersen, Villadsen, Ross Jensen.