Czech Republic 1-2 Denmark
We always knew one of the so-called ‘dark horses’ would gallop towards the semi-finals of Euro 2020.
The question was, who would prevail in Baku?
Everyone’s favourite ‘other’ team who, in the words of Danish coach Kasper Hjulmand, had to grab a chance ‘we may never have again’.
Or the other nation here on merit who also felt they could be the tournament’s surprise package.
Just like Denmark’s all-conquering 1992 European Champions, the Czech Republic had predecessors to emulate, so Euro 2020 highlights were the order of the day.
Highlights of the game
Covid-imposed restrictions sadly meant there were fewer than 2,000 fans of each nation in the 60,000-capacity arena but those of a Danish persuasion were celebrating after just five minutes.
Arguably a corner should not have been awarded but there was no excusing the Czech defending as Thomas Delaney was left unmarked from a Jens Stryger Larsen corner and headed the ball in off the ground.
A goal-line clearance denied Mikkel Damsgaard a second after a quarter of an hour but, three minutes before the break, a peach of a cross from Joakim Maehle created a goal that deserved to win the tie.
He made an overlapping run on the left and delivered a first-time cross with the outside of his boot which Kasper Dolberg volleyed home with glee.
A double substitution gave the Czechs renewed incentive at the start of the second period.
Kasper Schmeichel parried away a shot from sub Michal Krmencik and Patrik Schick then joined Cristiano Ronaldo at the top of the Euro 2020 goalscoring charts, superbly clipping a first-time shot into the bottom corner.
An end-to-end contest remained and Schmeichel made a crucial intervention, pushing the ball away in the nick of time with Tomas Soucek waiting to pounce.
His fellow custodian, the alert Tomas Vaclik, then expertly pushed away a Maehle shot as Denmark countered looking to seal the win.
They need not have worried.
The last three weeks have shown us that this group of players and management have character in abundance.
After back-to-back opening defeats, the Sbotop Euro 2020 betting odds were stacked against the Danes even getting out of the group stages.
Indeed, they began their campaign exactly three weeks ago – on a day when the football world was reminded of the fragility of life and what is truly important.
Twenty-one days later, they are in the semi-finals of the European Championships.
Key statistics
Denmark have reached the semi-final stage of the European Championship for the first time since 1992, with their 29-year gap between last four appearances the longest in the history of the competition.
Denmark have netted 11 goals in Euro 2020, their highest return in a single major tournament (ahead of their 1986 World Cup exploits – 10 goals).
Delaney’s opener (four minutes, 52 seconds) is their second quickest scored at this tournament following Yussuf Poulsen v Belgium earlier (01:39).
Maehle been involved in three goals in his last three games for Denmark (two goals, one assist) – more than in his other 12 appearances for his country (two goals).
Dolberg has become Denmark’s joint top scorer in European Championship history with three goals (along with Jon Dahl Tomasson, Brian Laudrup, Henrik Larsen and Frank Arnesen).
Schick has scored 16 goals in 31 appearances for the Czech Republic. Only five players have scored five goals in their first-ever Euros, most recently France’s Antoine Griezmann with six in 2016. Schick’s compatriot Milan Baros hit five at Euro 2004.
This was the third meeting between the Czech Republic and Denmark at the European Championship.
Five of the last seven matches between the Czech Republic and Denmark have ended as draws.
What’s next?
It’s off to Wembley for the European Championships semi-final. Ukraine or England await Denmark on Wednesday night (July 7).
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