DE BRUYNE’S RETURN LIFTS BELGIUM TO WIN
Substitute Kevin De Bruyne set up one goal and scored the winner himself to give Belgium a 2-1 victory over Denmark in a European Championship game at Copenhagen marked by an emotional tribute to Christian Eriksen in the first half.
Belgium 2, Denmark 1
De Bruyne came on after halftime for his first appearance since sustaining a facial fracture in the Champions League final and squared the ball for Thorgan Hazard to equalize in the 55th minute. He then scored in the 71st with a low shot from outside the area.
It was Denmark’s first game since Eriksen’s collapse, and the hosts started at a furious pace at a raucous Parken Stadium. Yussuf Poulsen scored with a low shot inside the far post in only the second minute.
Players from both teams then halted play after 10 minutes as the 25,000 fans rose for a minute of thunderous applause in tribute to Eriksen, who wears the No. 10 shirt for Denmark’s national team.
The players joined the applause as well, as did referee Bjorn Kuipers.
Eriksen remains in a nearby
hospital after suffering cardiac arrest in the team’s opening game against Finland.
Eriksen will be fitted with an implantable device to monitor his heart rhythm, the Danish soccer federation said.
The federation said doctors have determined that Eriksen needs to have an ICD — implantable cardioverter-defibrillator.
The victory gives Belgium a spot in the round of 16. Denmark can still advance with a win over Russia on Monday if the Belgians beat Finland.
Netherlands 2, Austria 0: Memphis Depay and Denzel Dumfries scored a goal in each
half as the Netherlands comfortably beat visiting Austria to advance to the round of 16.
Depay sent a penalty kick low into the corner in the 11th minute for his 27th goal in 66 international matches. Dumfries then scored his second goal of the tournament — following his late winner against Ukraine — in the 67th after an unselfish pass from PSV Eindhoven teammate Donyell Malen.
The Netherlands is playing at a major international soccer tournament for the first time in seven years and qualified for the knockout stage with a game to spare.
Ukraine 2, North Macedonia
1: Andriy Yarmolenko and Roman Yaremchuk both scored to give Ukraine a victory over North Macedonia at Bucharest, Romania.
The same two players also scored in the team’s opening match at Euro 2020 on Sunday, but that ended up being a loss to the Netherlands.
Yarmolenko netted from close range in 29th minute after Oleksandr Karavaev’s flick from a corner. He then released Yaremchuk on the right flank in the 34th to double the lead with a low shot past onrushing goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski.
The goals were separated by five minutes. Against the Dutch, they scored only four minutes apart.
North Macedonia was eliminated from the tournament after the Dutch win over Austria.
Elsewhere
Brazil changed half of its team to face Peru in its second Copa America match but still cruised to a 4-0 victory. Defender Alex Sandro, Neymar, midfielder Everton Ribeiro and striker Richarlison scored the goals at the Nilton Santos stadium in Rio de Janeiro. The result puts Brazil on the top of group B with six points after two matches, two clear of Colombia after its 0-0 draw with Venezuela.