England vs Denmark
Euro 2020 is hotting up; four teams remaining; two exciting semi-finals to come at Wembley and, possibly, a new name on the trophy.
This second semi-final pits the hosts for the remainder of the tournament against everyone’s ‘second favourite’ nation – events of three weeks ago ensured that.
As England expects, Denmark dare to dream and the pressure is all on the Three Lions and Gareth Southgate to triumph against the Scandinavians.
With home advantage again, a nation sits primed for them to add to their collection of Euro 2020 highlights.
You rule out the Danes at your peril, however.
Talking Points
So, the pressure is all on England, who have lost both of their only other European Championship semi-finals.
That came in 1968 when the then world champions were beaten by Yugoslavia, before Euro 96 when Terry Venables steered them to the last four and a 1-1 draw on home soil when the Germans subsequently triumphed in a dramatic penalty shoot-out.
Despite that, the official records show England have never lost in the finals of a major tournament at Wembley, winning 10 and drawing four of their matches.
That’s because the 1996 semi-final was classed as a draw.
The reason England are clear favourites this week is outlined by a number of statistics.
For a start, they have kept clean sheets in their last ten European Championship matches at Wembley, qualifiers and tournaments combined.
Indeed, the last goal they conceded there in the competition was a Jordan Henderson own goal in a 3-1 win against Slovenia in November 2014 – a run of 932 minutes without conceding during which England have scored 31 goals themselves.
Add in the fact that all bar a minority inside the stadium will be rooting for England and it’s easy to see why Denmark are underdogs.
That will not deter them.
The character they have shown over the last three weeks has been well documented. To recover from the distressing events witnessed in their opening match was difficult enough, to bounce back to become the first team to ever reach a European Championship semi-final after losing their opening two matches quite a feat.
Defender Andreas Christensen, who plies his club trade in England with Chelsea, spoke for them all when he said they are looking forward to the occasion.
The 25-year-old has been a rock in the Danish defence and believes his team have what it takes to worry the hosts.
Yes, Kasper Hjulmand’s side do not have as many players at top European clubs but the Danes are not intimidated by the English line-up of household names.
Åge Hareide, who oversaw the successful qualifying campaign, was replaced by Hjulmand following the postponement of the tournament last summer – the former Nordsjælland coach had been due to take over from Hareide after the competition – and is guaranteed a warm welcome home whatever happens on Wednesday night.
Just imagine, though, the elation and joy if Denmark can reach the final.
Just imagine, though, the despair if England fail to reach the showpiece.
It is all to play for, but England should have just too much.
History
Denmark have only won four of 21 meetings with England, including the most recent – a 1-0 success at Wembley in the Nations League last October, courtesy of a Christian Eriksen penalty, four minutes after England had been reduced to 10 men.
The previous meeting in a competition was in 1992, a goalless draw in Sweden as the Danes went onto famously and most memorably win the competition.
Their only other meeting in a major tournament was at the 2002 World Cup when England triumphed 3-0, courtesy of goals from Michael Owen and Emile Heskey, plus an own goal.
Overall, England have won 12 encounters with a further five draws.
Betting Tip
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England vs Denmark | Half Time Full Time Draw-Home @ 4.50 |
| July 8, 03:00 (GMT+8) |
The SBOTOP Euro 2020 betting odds make England firm favourites against the Eriksen-less Danes.
You can back them 1X2 @ 1.71 and Asian Handicap – 1.00 @ 2.47. As for 1992 European champions Denmark, how about 1X2 @ 5.00 or Asian Handicap +0.25 @ 2.78.
Another 1-0 Danish success at Wembley will give you odds of @ 11.50 with Correct Score.
I do expect goals but not too many of them.
The options include Total Goal 0-1 @ 2.53, 2-3 @ 1.93 and 4-6 @ 4.90, along with Over 2.25 goals @ 2.09 and Over 2.50 goals @ 2.36.
I think this will be close but, for all the emotion involved, expect England to prevail against a Danish side which, collectively, has been excellent but, in Eriksen’s absence, lacks a world-class talent to match the Euro 92 side which contained the likes of Peter Schmeichel and Brian Laudrup.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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| = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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