BELGIUM SPOILS DENMARK'S MAGICAL NIGHT
Injured Danish midfielder Eriksen was on both teams' minds in Euro 2020 match
For Belgium, it wasn't anything personal. It was just business.
Belgium spoiled a potentially magical night in Copenhagen, scoring two second-half goals to pull out a 2-1 victory against Denmark at Euro 2020 on Thursday.
Thorgan Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne, coming on as a second-half substitute, scored for Belgium to book a spot in the knockout round and move to the top of Group B.
Yussuf Poulsen scored for Denmark, playing its first game since midfielder Christian Eriksen collapsed and went into cardiac arrest on the field Saturday against Finland.
“As I told the players in the locker-room, the only thing I'm disappointed by was the result,” said Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand. “I can't describe the pride I feel for this team. What they showed, the quality they had four days after almost losing one of their best friends. To get up and play a game like this was just amazing.
“They totally dominated the best team in the world (in the first half ) and I have so much respect for them, and thanks so much for all the support we've been getting and for everyone who has helped us get through this.”
Prior to the game, Belgium captain Jan Vertonghen presented Denmark captain Simon Kjaer a framed signed jersey for Eriksen. Belgium has a number of players who play or have played club soccer with Eriksen, including Vertonghen, with the two having been teammates at Tottenham Hotspur.
Inspired by Eriksen — who is recovering in a Copenhagen hospital and will undergo a procedure to implant a cardioverter-defibrillator in his heart — along with a crowd of 23,395 at the Parken Stadium, Denmark jumped on Belgium early.
A giveaway from centreback Jason Denayer led to Poulsen scoring 98 seconds into the game; the second-fastest goal in European championship history.
Denayer had his pass up the middle intercepted by Pierreemile Hojbjerg, who then slid the ball over to Poulsen at the top of the penalty area. The striker fired a low right-footed shot into the bottom corner of the net past goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
The goal nearly blew the roof out of the stadium and Denmark was all over Belgium through the first 15 minutes of the game and had opportunities to increase the lead, but was unable to convert on a handful of quality chances.
“I thought the fans created an incredible atmosphere and the fans gave the home team a goal lead,” said Belgium coach Roberto Martinez. “At that point, I think we were a little bit of shell shocked. It took us about 20 minutes to start being ourselves. We couldn't get through that desire, that heart and the pressure the Danish team put on us.
“That was expected in a way, they were playing at home, they needed a win to qualify, and I thought in the first half there was a lot of emotion involved and that probably took away what we can do on a football pitch.”
Ten minutes into the game, play was stopped as players on both teams applauded to pay tribute to Eriksen. Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku, who plays with Eriksen at Inter Milan, said the day before the teams were going to stop play at that time as Eriksen wears the No. 10 jersey for Denmark.
“I talked to Christian this afternoon and we had a nice conversation,” Lukaku said after the game. “We talked about the Danish plan to defend Romelu Lukaku, so it was kind of a funny conversation. I'm really grateful that Christian is still among us and I hope that he comes back quickly.”
Belgium, which is one of the tournament favourites, was lucky to get out of the first half just down a goal.
De Bruyne was brought on as a substitute to start the second half. The Manchester City star had not played in three weeks after fracturing his nose and eye socket in a collision during the UEFA Champions League final loss to Chelsea. He sat out Belgium's 3-0 win against Russia on Saturday.
Considered one of the best midfielders in the world, De Bruyne made an immediate impact for Belgium.
Hazard tied the game in the 55th minute, finishing off a pass from De Bruyne, who took a ball from Lukaku just inside the box and sidestepped a pair of Denmark defenders before sliding the ball across the front of the net.
De Bruyne then scored in the 70th minute, finishing off another slick passing play started by Lukaku and featuring both brothers Eden and Thorgan Hazard.
“You never doubt Kevin De Bruyne's talent,” Martinez said. “It's a big ask for him to come on at halftime and to be able to affect the game the way he did. I don't think it's just about talent, but his know-how and the way that he played in the second half, it didn't look like a player that has been through surgery and that has been away from football for three weeks.”
Denmark pushed hard for the tying goal and fullback Martin Braithwaite came close, but his header bounced off the crossbar late in the contest.
The loss left Denmark last in Group B and needing a win in its final game against Russia in Copenhagen on Monday. Russia defeated Finland 1-0 on Wednesday in St. Petersburg.
“I'm already looking forward to Monday even though we just finished this one,” said Braithwaite. “We're going to finish strong and we're going to make sure we get through to the next round. What this team can do is amazing and there are no limits, so we're going to focus on and prepare for Monday.”