Denmark has successfully advanced to the knockout stages of Euro 2024 following a goalless draw with Serbia on Tuesday. This result allowed them to secure the second spot in Group C, ahead of third-place Slovenia, based on their disciplinary record.
Group C Standings and Match Outcomes
The 0-0 stalemate between Denmark and Serbia mirrored the scoreline of the parallel group match between England and Slovenia. England emerged as the group winners, having accumulated the highest points in Group C.
Both Denmark and Slovenia finished the group stage with the same points total and goal tally. Consequently, the second place — which comes with a meeting with hosts Germany — was determined by the total number of yellow cards received throughout the tournament. Denmark edged out Slovenia in this regard and will now face Germany in Dortmund. Meanwhile, England will return to Gelsenkirchen for a match against a third-placed side from another group.
Slovenia, having finished third, will take on a group winner in the next round, while Serbia was eliminated after finishing last in the group.
Reactions from Coaches
Denmark’s coach, Kasper Hjulmand, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance. He referred to the Danes as “everyone’s team” and emphasized the importance of being happy with their progress. “We have to be happy. We got through the group stage, so let’s be very happy about this,” Hjulmand said.
On the other hand, Serbia’s coach, Dragan Stojkovic, expressed pride in his team’s efforts despite their elimination. “We played brave football, we tried our best, and sometimes it’s not easy to score. If it was easy, games would finish 6-5 — one goal can change everything,” Stojkovic remarked.
Key Moments in the Match
Luka Jovic’s stoppage-time equalizer against Slovenia at this venue on Thursday had kept Serbian hopes alive of reaching the last-16 in their first Euros as an independent nation. Stojkovic had backed his team to “change history” against the 1992 European champions, Denmark, despite never having beaten them before.
The Danes, who were semi-finalists in this competition in 2021, knew that a draw would be sufficient to qualify. However, they needed a win while hoping for an England loss to avoid meeting hosts Germany in the last 16. Despite Serbia needing a win to progress, it was Denmark who appeared more willing to attack early in the match, with the Serbs rarely venturing into Danish territory.
Denmark caught the Serbian defense off guard early in the game. Christian Eriksen’s free-kick found Jonas Wind alone in the box, but the forward’s shot was directly at goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic. The Danes’ best phase came after 20 minutes, with Eriksen forcing a fingertip save from Rajkovic and then pinning Serbia back with a series of corners.
Eriksen and Wind combined again from a corner to have the ball in the net at the 27-minute mark, but the midfielder’s direct cross had drifted out of play. Jovic, who was brought on from the bench at half-time, immediately posed questions to the Danish defense. He pressured Joachim Andersen into an own goal eight minutes into the second half, but the flag went up for offside. VAR confirmed that Jovic, Serbia’s late hero against Slovenia, was inches offside.
Eriksen, Denmark’s most dangerous creative outlet, laid on an inch-perfect cross for Jannik Vestergaard after 65 minutes, but the Leicester City defender’s header was comfortably saved by a thankful Rajkovic.
Serbia’s Last-Ditch Efforts
In a bid to secure a winner, Stojkovic went all out by bringing on Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic alongside forwards Jovic and Aleksandar Mitrovic. Despite these efforts, the Serbs were unable to break through Denmark’s defense.
Conclusion
Denmark’s progression to the knockout stages of Euro 2024 is a testament to their disciplined play and strategic approach throughout the group stage. Their ability to secure second place based on their disciplinary record highlights the importance of maintaining composure and discipline in high-stakes tournaments.
As Denmark prepares to face Germany in Dortmund, they will undoubtedly be looking to build on their solid performances in the group stage. Meanwhile, England, as group winners, will be aiming to continue their strong form in Gelsenkirchen.
For Slovenia and Serbia, the journey in Euro 2024 has been a mix of highs and lows. Slovenia’s third-place finish gives them another opportunity to compete against a group winner, while Serbia will reflect on their efforts and look to build for future tournaments.
In the end, the group stage of Euro 2024 has provided thrilling moments, unexpected twists, and a showcase of footballing talent from all the teams involved. As the tournament progresses to the knockout stages, fans can look forward to more exciting matches and memorable performances.
