COPENHAGEN, DENMARK – JUNE 21: Players of Denmark celebrate after scoring a goal during the EURO 2020 Group B third match between Russia and Denmark at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, Denmark on June 21, 2021. (Photo by Dmitriy Golubovich/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
The Euro 2020 group stage is officially over with the tournament knockout phase set to begin over the weekend.
Wales against Denmark is set to kick off the proceedings in what should be an interesting affair with two teams who appear to be evenly matched.
Euro 2020: How they got here
The two sides qualified to the next round by finishing second in their group. Wales drew their opening game, 1-1, against Switzerland, won 2-0 against Turkey and lost their final game to Italy 1-0. They finished tied for second with four points but had a better goal differential than the Swiss.
Denmark, on the other hand, lost 1-0 against Finland, lost 2-1 against Belgium and won 4-1 against Russia. Similar to Wales, they also finished tied for second but with three points. A better goal differential saw them end up ahed of Finland.
In the process, Denmark became the first team in the European Championship to qualify past the group stage despite losing their first two matches.
Unless you’re a Wales supporter, everyone else is likely going to be rooting for Denmark given what happened to Christian Eriksen in their opening match against Finland. The Danes are a talented side and have RB Leipzig’s Yusuff Poulsen as their top scorers with two goals in three games.
They also have Barcelona’s Martin Braithwaite who, despite not getting on the score sheet so far, is a lively striker who makes good movements off the balls and has been a headache for opposing defenders.
Wales are no slouches either and have Gareth Bale as their talisman. He did miss a penalty but he remains their most important player. He seems to become an ever more dangerous player when he puts on the Wales shirt. In addition, they also have the talented Aaron Ramsey in midfield.
There is history between these two sides as well.
Denmark have won each of their last three competitive matches against Wales dating back to 1999. However, this is the first meeting between them in a “major tournament.”
It is their first meeting since November 2018 when they faced off in the Nations League. Denmark won that encounter 2-1.
Denmark are going to be motivated to try to get as far as they can not only for themselves but for Eriksen as well.
On the other side, Wales will try to live up to what they accomplished in Euro 2016 where they made it all the way to the semifinals before falling 2-0 to eventual winners, Portugal.
