Wales meet Denmark in the first round-of-16 encounter of Euro 2020. Additionally, this is also the first time that these two nations are meeting at a major tournament.
The opening 10 minutes panned out pretty evenly with Gareth Bale’s rasping drive whistling just wide of the post ending up as their best chance. Wales were in the ascendancy now but Denmark were still posing a threat going forward, encapsulated by a troika of corners they got in the 20th minute.
🏴 Bale looking lively early on…#EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/05cM2Ls7mB
— UEFA Nations League (@EURO2024) June 26, 2021
With the half-hour mark approaching, a Danish attack found Damsgaard who laid the ball of Kasper Dolberg. The Nice striker took two touches to set himself up before curling a fantastic shot beyond Ward in goal and into the far corner. Denmark were quickly looking for a second with Damsgaard’s cutback for Dolberg saw the latter’s flick well saved this time.
🇩🇰 A memorable return to the Johan Cruijff ArenA for Kasper Dolberg ⚽️#EURO2020 https://t.co/cZo35Le6Ii pic.twitter.com/wVxg48FQeQ
— UEFA Nations League (@EURO2024) June 26, 2021
Wales were under some real pressure now, as they were being pegged back by the Danes. Their evening got worse with fullback Roberts having to be replaced by Neco Williams just before halftime. With halftime just around the corner, Maehle’s shot from a tight angle was saved by Ward as the scoreline remained 1-0.
🏴 0-1 🇩🇰 HANNER AMSER
First half 📸#WAL | #EURO2020 | #TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/DXviu4uJ96
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) June 26, 2021
The second half got immediately worse for Wales. Braithwaite’s driving run into the box and cutback was hurriedly cleared by Williams straight into the feet of Dolberg. The attacker controlled the ball on his left foot before rifling the ball past Ward for the game’s second goal.
⚽️ KASPER GOALBERG ⚽️ #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/2h0zQq4v4e
— UEFA Nations League (@EURO2024) June 26, 2021
That goal seemed to galvanize Wales into action, as they got more adventurous in attack with Denmark now stretched. Kasper Hjulmand’s side were having to defend now as Wales went in search of their first goal. However, they stood firm and repelled the Welsh attacks firmly.
With the game into the final 10 minutes, Denmark were finding more chances to progress up the pitch. Wales were looking tired after all of their exertions and it was clear that the Danes were happy to hold what they had. Joachim Andersen had a glorious chance to score a third but fluffed his lines and so did Braithwaite.
GOAL! Wales 0-3 Denmark (Mæhle 88').#EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/MsgYNKQors
— UEFA Nations League (@EURO2024) June 26, 2021
The game saw more action as the game entered injury time. First, a cross by substitute Jensen found Maehle in acres of space inside the box. The Atalanta wingback cut back inside on his left foot before shooting past Ward for the game’s third goal. Immediately after the goal, Welsh substitute Harry Wilson was sent off after tripping Maehle and Braithwaite scored his side’s fourth of the evening to secure an emphatic win.
Here are the three key takeaways from the match:
DENMARK PROGRESS COMFORTABLY
Aside from the opening 20 minutes, the first half pretty much belonged to the Danes. They were far more threatening while going forward and deservedly got their goal. Dolberg’s sumptuous finish came on the back of some sustained pressure which only continued following the strike. Damsgaard was a particular menace down the Welsh right while their defence had nullified Bale and Ramsey very well.
🇩🇰 Kasper Dolberg is the first Danish player to score two or more in a match at a major tournament since Nicklas Bendtner against Portugal at EURO 2012 ⚽️⚽️#EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/7croaI07JL
— UEFA Nations League (@EURO2024) June 26, 2021
Things got even better minutes of the second half with Dolberg notching up his second of the afternoon after a defensive mistake. Though he was substituted in the 70th minute, goals from Maehle and Braithwaite saw them blow away Wales without a problem on their way to a real statement win.
INSIPID WALES EXIT MEEKLY
Wales would have been quietly confident of their chances, despite their last match loss against Italy. Bale had rediscovered a lot of old magic while Ramsey and James were pairing together nicely. They started pretty strongly, looking for openings but were soon on the back foot. Denmark’s growing influence in the game forced them to defend deep considerably, with no attacking prowess evident as the halftime whistle sounded.
🤯 Wales have lost their heads pic.twitter.com/zy30MwQjrz
— oddschecker (@oddschecker) June 26, 2021
Things got worse after they went 2-0 almost immediately after the restart. That did jolt them back into action, as they tried to take the game to Denmark in a much more positive manner. It was as good as it got for Wales as further goals from Maehle and Braithwaite saw them win by a huge margin. Harry Wilson even found time to get himself sent off and this was an ignominious end for their campaign.
DENMARK WILL BE A PROBLEM
The Danes, having squeaked through their group, showed their whole litany of attacking talents today. The likes of Dolberg, Braithwaite, Maehle, Damsgaard were relentless in going forward while the backline was expertly marshalled by Simon Kjaer.
They never looked like conceding and had just enough firepower to outclass Wales across all departments. With either of Netherlands or Czech Republic to come next, Denmark will be feeling supremely confident of themselves after this display.
