Slovenia 1-1 Denmark
It was one of those moments which stopped in your tracks.
The emotion was palpable, the fear of the worst profound.
As the footballing world waited for news, I was no different – listening to Danish media in the hope they may have an update before anyone else; listening to those in the stadium, hoping for some positive news; watching events unfold desperate for a glimmer.
I recall the message I received from my best friend, a Spurs man who loved Christian Eriksen to bits, who suspected a tragedy had occurred.
Those distressing scenes when his teammates stood around him arm-in-arm, trying to shield him from the cameras and supporters in the stands as he received life-saving treatment on the pitch, were exactly three years ago today
Now, 1,100 days since suffering a cardiac arrest during Denmark’s opening group match against Finland at Euro 2020, here was Eriksen – now the Danish captain – at the centre of such different and truly wonderful scenes.
Indeed, the image of Eriksen celebrating his goal against Slovenia in their Euro 2024 opener, a huge grin plastered across his face, was in stark contrast.
It may not have been enough to earn the Scandinavians all three points, and that could prove costly when it comes to qualification from Group C, but in many ways, that was of secondary importance,
Highlights of the game
This meeting was of little fancied nations with genuine talent.
Denmark with Kasper Schmeichel – still the undisputed No 1 with more than 100 caps – allied to balance and creativity in midfield provided by Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Eriksen and the goals of Rasmus Højlund.
Meanwhile, the Slovenia backbone was equally firm with goalkeeper Jan Oblak, a key figure for the national team and his club, Atlético Madrid, and exciting young striker Benjamin Sesko, fresh from his first season in the Bundesliga where, at RB Leipzig, he ended the 2023-24 campaign by netting in each of the team’s final seven league games.
The special moment arrived 17 minutes in as Eriksen took Jonas Wind’s clever back-heel on his chest before volleying into the bottom corner.
It was a beautiful and uplifting moment for football fans the world over.
For all of Denmark being on top though, Oblak was rarely called into action and didn’t make his first save until just after the hour when he denied Hojlund from point blank range.
There was always a thought they needed a second goal and so it proved when the group minnows levelled 13 minutes from time.
Moments after Sesko rifled in a shot which cannoned off the post, Slovenia scored their first European Championship goal since 2000.
A corner was cleared out as far as Erik Janza and his shot took a huge deflection off to wrongfoot Schmeichel.
Despite being second best for most of the encounter, that was enough to earn a point to defy the Euro 2024 betting odds and, if they have no more Euro 2024 highlights to shout about over the next week and a half, Slovenia will always have that Janza moment.
Manager Matjaz Kek has now masterminded a seven match unbeaten run, not bad for the world’s 57th ranked nation who had laid down some markers in competitive and non-competitive action before the tournament, only losing one of their last 12 contests.
As for Denmark, the men’s team had earned much admiration for their stance in recent days, turning down a pay rise for playing for the national team to ensure their female counterparts receive equal basic pay.
In this Sbotop’s observers view, the Danes were done last time at this tournament, losing to a penalty which shouldn’t have been awarded in the semi-finals.
They may now need a bit of good fortune in their favour if they are to progress from this group.
Key statistics
Eriksen is Denmark’s joint fourth top scorer ever with 42 goals. He is 10 off their leading scorers Poul Nielsen and Jon Dahl Tomasson.
Slovenia are yet to win a game at the European Championships.
Denmark have faced Slovenia six times in all competitions so far and they have won five of those outings with two draws.
Both teams were in the same group during the qualifiers. They finished level on points (22 each) but Denmark ended the group on top as they had a better head-to-head record. (away draw, home win)
The Danish team have conceded a goal against Slovenia in each of their last four meetings.
What’s next?
Slovenia meet Serbia next in a game with real political history in Munich.
That’s on Thursday afternoon, a few hours before Denmark’s attentions turn to England who they meet at teatime in Frankfurt.
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