Any team reaching the semi-final of a major tournament starts thinking to itself that, just maybe, its name is on the trophy. Players look back on key turning points, read positive signs into those moments when luck seemed to be with them.
In the case of Denmark, who meet England for a place in the Euro 2020 final on Wednesday night, the improbable journey to the last four has featured more than just arbitrary, scattered omens. It has inspired many people well beyond their courageous, determined squad.
As they looked ahead to Wembley, the Danes once again cited Christian Eriksen, the star who is with them in spirit but necessarily apart. Eriksen collapsed, suffering a sudden, shocking cardiac arrest just before half-time in Denmark’s opening fixture. He spent the following days in hospital. The teammates who gathered around the stricken Eriksen in the Parken stadium three and half weeks ago had feared for his life.
The player is now recuperating at home and progressing as well as can be expected. Denmark meanwhile have progressed in the tournament further than most expected, and beyond almost anybody’s forecast in the immediate aftermath of Eriksen’s collapse in the match against Finland. After a long delay to the game, during which players from both teams were eventually assured Eriksen was in a stable condition, the match resumed. Denmark lost 1-0.
They were then defeated by Belgium, 2-1, and with the campaign overshadowed by what had happened to their most gifted footballer, their one true star, the possibility of reaching the knockout phase became very remote. It required an emphatic victory in the final Group B match against Russia, and some luck with how the calculations to find the best third-place finishers all added up.
Denmark scored four times against the Russians. They scored another four against Wales. “It’s Christian who gives our wings,” head coach Kasper Hjulmand said as the fairytale gathered pace, with an impressive 2-1 quarter-final victory against the Czech Republic.
Hjulmand’s skill has been to manage, absorb and channel the emotional impact of what happened 43 minutes into Denmark’s championship, when Eriksen fell to the ground. There is no doubting Eriksen is ever-present in the thoughts of Denmark’s players, support staff and their fans. But there is a narrow, professional focus, too. Eriksen had been the centre-piece of the team for many years, the playmaker they wanted on the ball more than anybody. Without him, Denmark have had to adapt, not just psychologically but in how they operate in a very practical sense.
They do not lack for leaders. Simon Kjaer has been a model captain on the pitch and thoughtful in his public-facing duties. Likewise Kasper Schmeichel, the goalkeeper. The “intensity” of Denmark’s gameplan, as designed by Hjulmand, is driven by the hard-working central midfielders, Tottenham Hotspur’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Borussia Dortmund’s Thomas Delaney.
Denmark v Czech Republic player ratings
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CZECH REPUBLIC RATINGS: Tomáš Vaclik 6 – The goalkeeper had a mixed performance. He made a number of vital saves for his side, but there is no looking past the fact he conceded two, the second of which he could have done better. Despite this, he was always sharp off his line. AFP -
Vladimir Coufal 7 – The right-back was one of his side’s best performers as he made several tackles that disrupted the Danish attack. He marked tightly throughout the game and even had a chance fall his way, but it was on his weaker foot. AP -
Ondrej Celustka 5 – The Sparta Prague defender had a good chance from a free-kick, but he just missed the ball. He later came off due to an injury received whilst defending against a Danish attack. AP -
Tomas Kalas 5 –Bristol City’s centre-back was responsible for losing Delaney in the box as he headed in the opening goal. Kalas didn’t make many tackles, but the few he did were needed to stop Denmark from extending their lead. AP -
Jan Boril 5 –The left-back was partly at fault for the second goal as he wasn’t goal side of Dolberg who managed to tap the ball in at the back post. He found himself chasing the ball on occasion and didn’t win many challenges. EPA -
Tomáš Holes 6 –The midfielder made his fifth European Championship appearance and nearly scored with a volley at the edge of the box, but it was saved by Schmeichel. EPA -
Tomas Soucek 5 -The Czech captain wasn’t at his usual standard and his side paid the price. He had a headed chance which went wide. He needed to step up and perform, but he didn’t meet his own high expectations. -
Lukàš Masopust 6 – The 28-year-old did some good pressing early on and he made several good runs forward down the wing. He also displayed some clever footwork, which mostly worked though there was no-one to meet his deliveries. AFP -
Antonín Barak 6 – The Udinese midfielder made some decent deliveries from free-kicks but none of his teammates could capitalise. He also put a great through ball to Schick, which came to nothing. He had a shot on the edge of the box but it didn’t test Schmeichel. EPA -
Petr Ševčik 5 – The Slavia Prague man had a poor game. He wasted several chances, including a volley which finished well over. He was subsequently replaced late on. Getty Images -
Patrick Schick 7 – One of the breakout stars of the tournament got his fifth goal, this time on on the volley, to claw one back for his side. He was very creative and made a number of good forward runs, but the Danish defence kept him at bay. The striker was taken off late on as his manager looked for an equaliser. EPA -
SUB: Jakob Jankto (Holes, 46) 7 – Jankto came on at half-time and made a number of good runs along the left wing, and his energy definitely helped his side fight back in the second half. He provided several crosses into the box but there was no-one on the end to finish them off. EPA -
SUB: Michael Krmencik (Masopust, 46) 7 – Arguably the best substitution, as he changed his side’s fortune. He had a large number of chances, and he held up the ball to bring others into play. EPA -
SUB: Jakub Brabec (Celustka, 65) – 5 The centre-back replaced an injured Celustka late on and he was tasked with marking Poulsen. He lost him a few times but he also put in several interceptions to deny the Leipzig man. He had a shot from range but it was off target. AFP -
SUB: Matej Vydra (Schick, 79) N/A – The Burnley striker came on as his side searched for an equaliser but he was reduced to one effort, which he failed to capitalise on. AFP -
SUB: Vladimir Darida (Sevcik, 80) N/A– The 30 year was introduced at the same time as Vydra and he failed to make a real impact for his side. -
Smart save from Holes after 20 – a minute after the Dane had chipped the ball into the Czech midfielder. Hard to save Schick’s fifth goal of tournament – level with Ronaldo as top scorer. Had to be on top of his game as Czech Republic gave everything to get a late equaliser. Getty Images -
The Southampton defender has been excellent for his country. Comfortable as they blew Czech Republic away in the first half. Under significant pressure in the second half but maximum effort means he’s now a semi-finalist. Getty Images -
Captain Fantastic came back from injury. Confidently blocked a 71st minute shot from Jankto and winced in pain as he did. Screamed at his players while in agony. Should he have come off? No. Getty Images -
Fifth successive start for the Chelsea defender. Superb in 2021. Very hard for the Czechs to get past. Getty Images -
Beautifully weighted ball – and very difficult to execute – for Dolberg to volley in the second. Should have made it 3-1 after 80 when he could have shot or passed to Braithwaite. Getty Images -
Headed outswinging corner down into the corner from ten yards after five minutes for dream Danish start. Why wasn’t he marked? Devastating combinations with Larsen and should have scored a second. Tactically smart. Left field exhausted. Excellent. Getty Images -
Key player as Denmark dominated in the middle and reached the semi-final of a major tournament for the first time since Euro ’92 – which they won. Struggled in the last ten minutes and looked exhausted but ran himself into the ground and still created chances. EPA -
Perfect corner straight off the training ground to assist first goal. Let the Czech full-backs push up as Denmark comfortable in their 3-4-3 shape. AFP -
Played on the left, right and in the centre. Created clear chances but shot well wide after 27. You can doubt that he has the technical level to play for Barça, but not his quality and effort. Held ball up when needed. Team player. AFP -
Shared the chances among the forwards, made forward runs. Got the second goal after another lightning counter attack, volleying in his third in three matches to delight the 2,000 noisy travelling Danes. Getty Images -
Birthday and his best first half chance saw him with only goalkeeper to beat after 37. He shot straight at him. Worked hard in difficult conditions and deserved his rest after an hour. AFP -
On for Damsgaard after 59, the Brentford player went left and played some quality balls. Reuters -
On for Dolberg after 60 after overcoming a thigh injury and shot within a minute of entering the field after a fast run beat the defender. Should’ve scored. Ran forward after 69 in another counter but ran out of energy and shot straight at the goalkeeper. Took a top shot after 78. Fine movement off ball. More shots than any player on pitch – despite only playing 30 mins. AFP -
On for Larsen after 70 and gave ball away within a minute as Czech Republic pushed for an equaliser as both teams tired. AFP -
On for Delaney 80. AFP -
On for Christensen after 80 as Denmark wisely used five subs. The only surprise was that it wasn’t the injured Kjaer. Getty Images
The revelations have been Mikkel Damsgaard, the 21-year-old promoted to a starting place because of Erikson’s absence, a confident dribbler with an eye for goal and the unexpected pass, and Joakim Maelhe. Maehle has covered so much ground, so effectively at left wing-back that England, preparing to deal with Denmark’s width and quick counter-attacks, have given serious thought to whether they should change their shape, to match Hjulmand’s 3-4-3 formation.
Maehle, of Atalanta, has two goals so far in the tournament. He may also be the proud owner of the best cross so far at Euro 2020, the one he arrowed in with the outside of his right boot, for Kasper Dolberg’s goal against the Czechs. Hjulmand enjoyed that: he sees the positioning of Maehle, who is right footed, on the left flank not as an awkward compromise, but as a strength. It means the wing-back can go past his marker either way. He can certainly take on any opponent in a sprint.
Maehle epitomises Denmark’s stamina, too. They have not had a gentle schedule. There was frustration with the authorities for what some players felt was pressure to play the rest of the Finland match on the same night Erisken had been rushed to intensive care. Denmark then had to voyage all the way to Baku for their quarter-final.
For their semi-final, their supporters will be heavily outnumbered by England’s. Home backing will be noisy throughout, although there will be a point in the evening when Eriksen’s name is murmured. When it is, expect applause to spread across both sets of supporters.
