Euro 2024: Hosts Need to be at Their Own Party

Germany vs Denmark

If you’ve enjoyed Euro 2024 so far, then it’s about to get a whole lot better.

For this tournament has just got to the serious part.

The time when there simply is no room for error.

In fact, one false move and your spell in Germany could be over.

As we enter the last-16 stage, Euro 2024 highlights are coming.

Talking Points

It has been a tournament of draws for Denmark so far (against Slovenia, England and Serbia) and now they need a win – although another draw would give them a chance of glory in a penalty shoot-out.

Their standout moment to date has been the goalscoring return of Christian Eriksen three years after tragedy almost struck.

If they can now end the campaign of the hosts, it would provide another special moment for the Scandinavians. It would also be a mighty shock and lead to misery for a nation which has experienced lows in recent major tournaments but is showing signs of life once again.

In fact, for some time now they have been and remain my tip to be crowned champions of Europe.

The hosts of Euro 2024 will argue they need to be at their own party.

They have impressed in topping their group with convincing wins against Scotland and Hungary followed by a last-gasp equaliser against Switzerland.

The yellow card picked up by Jonathan Tah against the Swiss has ruled him out of the tie and there may be a certain anxiety at the ease with which Switzerland were able to slice them open on Sunday before Niclas Füllkrug proved the difference-maker.

His last-gasp equaliser means he now has six major tournament appearances, all as a substitute, a total of 139 minutes that have produced four goals.

Denmark, who finished second in Group C by virtue of having a better disciplinary record than Slovenia, will also be without a key player of their own with midfielder Morten Hjulmand suspended after collecting two bookings in the group stage.

The Danes don’t have the squad depth of the Germans, and I suspect his absence will be more keenly felt than the unavailability of Tah.

History

When I thought of this fixture one game immediately stood out and it remains the most important of all their 28 contests.

In total, Germany have won 15 meetings with five draws and eight Denmark victories but there’s no question the two most important games of all have been won by the Danes.

The final of Euro 1992 was one of my favourites as the rank outsiders comprising one of my heroes, Peter Schmeichel, took on and saw off the world champions Germany.

And to think, the nation wasn’t even going to be taking part in the tournament until a few weeks before a ball was kicked.

The other major game they played was at the World Cup in 1986 when a Jesper Olsen penalty and a John Eriksen goal sealed a 2-0 group stage win.

Although the Scandinavians topped the group, it would be the then West Germany who went onto reach the final where they were beaten 3-2 by Argentina.

While all bar four of their clashes have been friendlies, Germany have won two of the competitive encounters, both in this competition.

At Euro 88 on home soil, Jurgen Klinsmann and Olaf Thon were the scorers as West Germany avenged their group stage defeat two years earlier.

They also met in a group encounter at Euro 2012 when the Germans ran out 2-1 winners as Lars Bender struck an 80^th minute winner after Michael Krohn-Dehli had cancelled out the opener from Lukas Podolski, on his 100th international appearance.

Their most recent clash was a friendly in Austria in 2021 which ended 1-1 as Florian Neuhaus and Yussuf Poulsen traded second half goals.

The very first meeting was a friendly in 1912, won 3-1 by the Danes in Copenhagen after goals from Nils Middelboe (two) and Alf Olsen.

Betting Tip

Germany are firm favourites with the SBOTOP Euro 2024 betting odds as you would expect.

They can be priced 1X2 @ 1.54 and Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 1.82 and -1.00 @ 2.13.

Alternatively, the Danes are available to back 1X2 @ 5.30 and Asian Handicap +0.50 @ 2.40.

For goals, and there’s plenty in the tank you would think, how about Over 2.75 @ 2.36, Total Goals 0-1 @ 3.05, 2-3 @ 1.90, or 4-6 @ 3.63?

Another 1-1 draw will pay out @ 9.40 with Correct Score.

I think this will be tight with the disciplined Danes giving little away, yet I do think the German strength in depth will prove too much for a nation which often punches above its weight but which is now, in some cases, a squad past its best.

I am going for a win for the hosts.

 

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