WONDERFUL, COPENHAGEN
Danes do Eriksen proud:
It was a night for tributes to Christian Eriksen but when Belgium needed to be ruthless they showed little compassion. Red Devils boss Roberto Martinez turned to Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne at half-time with his side trailing to Yussuf Poulsen’s opener for Denmark.
De Bruyne was on the bench after fracturing an eye socket in last month’s Champions League final, but he needed only 45 minutes here to book Belgium’s place in the knockout stages.
His composure to tee up Thorgan Hazard for the equaliser was sublime and his finish for the winning goal was superb. Yet Denmark deserved a point from this Group B clash.
A victory over Russia in their final game will still give them a chance of making the last 16.
Manager Kasper Hjulmand said: “The only thing I’m disappointed about is the result.
I can’t describe the pride I feel about this squad.
“Four days after almost losing one of their best friends they get up and put on a game like that. It is amazing.
“We are not done in this competition.”
Eriksen, watching from his hospital bed, may have heard the celebrations at the nearby Parken Stadium when Poulsen’s second-minute strike went in.
Hopefully he will have heard the applause in the 10th minute when the game halted in tribute to the Denmark No.10.
Forward Martin Braithwaite said: “He sent us a message in the Whatsapp group.
“I think he said we were awesome but I haven’t had a chance to look.”
On Saturday, Eriksen was fighting for his life on the same pitch as medics resuscitated him after a cardiac arrest.
Defeat by Finland then left Hjulmand’s side facing an almighty task to progress to the knockout stages.
But they were gifted the opener when Belgium defender Jason Denayer misplaced a pass. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg intercepted and slotted Poulsen in to finish in the bottom corner.
Nine minutes after the restart, Romelu Lukaku cut the ball back for De Bruyne, who sat down two Danes before sliding across for Hazard to tap home.
Then De Bruyne fired home from the edge of the area from a lay-off by fellow substitute Eden Hazard, who was also coming back from injury.
Braithwaite hit the bar with a late header.
DENMARK (5-3-2): Schmeichel 6; Wass 7 (Stryger 62, 6), Christensen 7, Kjaer 7, Vestergaard 6 (Olsen 84), Maehle 6; Damsgaard 6 (Cornelius 72, 6), Hojbjerg 6, Delaney 6 (Jensen 72, 6); Poulsen 7 (Norgaard 62, 6), Braithwaite 7. Goal: Poulsen 2. BELGIUM (3-4-2-1): Courtois 7; Alderweireld 7, Denayer 6, Vertonghen 5; Meunier 7, Dendoncker 6 (Witsel 59, 7), Tielemans 7, T Hazard 8 (Vermaelen 90); Mertens 5 (De Bruyne 46, 8), Carrasco 7 (E Hazard 59, 6); Lukaku 8. Goals: T Hazard 54, De Bruyne 70.