Denmark and Belgium will square off in Copenhagen on Thursday, with the No.1 ranked team in the FIFA world rankings facing off against a highly regarded dark horse of Euro 2020.
Denmark was predicted to do well but their defeat against Finland, along with the fact that they would be missing Christian Eriksen for the duration of the tournament, might have changed their fortunes.
However, the Danish Dynamites will be fired up for this match and will want to put on a show in honour of their star player, who will be watching his nation compete from the hospital. But things won’t be easy, as a Roberto Martinez-led Belgium side stands in their way as a roadblock to their search for glory.
Belgium crushed Russia 3-0 to get their Euro campaign off to a flying start. The Red Devils, even being without some of their key players, put on a show and looked unstoppable.
They appeared to have carried over their form from the Euro qualifications, where they completely annihilated their opponents. With 10 wins from 10 matches, 40 goals scored and only 3 conceded, the nation has entered the tournament as heavy favorites to win it all. And winning their first match just adds to and strengthens their quest for the Euro 2020 crown.
TEAM NEWS
The entire world held its breath when Christian Eriksen collapsed after suffering a cardiac arrest during their first match against Finland. But, following an evening of concern, came solace as the Danish Football Association informed that the 29-year-old was stable and communicating.
Unfortunately now, Denmark will be missing him for the remainder of the tournament and it is yet to be known whether we’ll see Eriksen back on the football pitch any time soon. Denmark has no other injury concerns.
Denmark Probable Lineup: Schmeichel; Wass, Kjaer, Christensen, Maehle; Jensen, Hojbjerg, Delaney; Poulsen, Wind, Braithwaite
After incurring facial fractures in the UEFA Champions League final, Kevin De Bruyne will be available for this match, much to the delight of Belgium supporters, after he trained with the group today. Timothy Castagne will miss the remainder of Euro 2020 after suffering a bilateral fracture in his right eye socket during the match against Russia.
Jan Vertonghen and Axel Witsel are questionable for this match.
Roberto Martinez has confirmed that Timothy Castagne has been ruled out of the rest of the Euro 2020 🇧🇪
[@TelegraphDucker] pic.twitter.com/iCz8n0TOGg
— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) June 12, 2021
Belgium Probable Lineup: Courtois; Alderweireld, Boyota, Denayer; Meunier, Dendoncker, Tielemans, T.Hazard; De Bruyne, Carrasco, Lukaku
GAME CHANGERS
In the absence of Christian Eriksen from the middle of the park, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg will man the midfield control tower. The 25-year-old was one of the few bright spots in Spurs’ dreadful season. He featured in all 38 of their Premier League matches and was seldom injured.
The midfielder hypnotizes with his artistry, balance, and agility. He organizes, adds pause, gives clarity and cohesion to the ball movement, and offers passing lanes for the centre-back. He understands what is expected of him, whether it is to play at one touch or to transition onto the other wing. Hojbjerg can effortlessly find the farthest teammate and will offer the balance that the side would be missing without Eriksen.
Romelu Lukaku is one of the most deadly strikers in the game. With the physique and stature of an American football player, it’s surprising that the Belgium striker chose football, but we’re glad he did! He was a key player for Inter Milan this season, helping them clinch the Serie A title after an 11-year drought. With 35 goal contributions (24 G, 11 A) in 36 league matches, Lukaku had the best season of his career. The 28-year-old is at the pinnacle of his powers, posing a serious threat to opposition defences.
He is his country’s leading goal scorer, having scored 62 goals. He kicked off his Euro 2020 campaign with a roar, scoring a brace in his team’s 3-0 victory over Russia. Lukaku’s value to Belgium is unparalleled, thanks to his devastating finishing and herculean strength up front.
PREDICTIONS
Martinez’s men have recently been looking unbeatable. They’ve been scoring for fun, and they’re eager to get their hands on some silverware since this might be Belgium’s golden generation’s last chance to shine following a string of close finishes in major international tournaments.
In the case of Denmark, they must remain focused and work as a unit against Belgium if they are to advance further in Euro 2020.
FootTheBall predicts Denmark 0-2 Belgium
