How Schmeichel’s Denmark Reached The EURO 2020 Semi-Finals
As Kasper Schmeichel’s Denmark side prepare to face England for a spot in the final of the 2020 UEFA European Championships, LCFC.com recaps the Danes’ route to the semi-finals of this summer’s flagship competition.
Photo: UEFA
While they were unable to progress, it is Denmark who are one of only four teams left in the tournament, with Schmeichel – an ever-present for his nation – set to face several other Premier League stars when Kasper Hjulmand’s take on the Wembley Stadium on Wednesday night.
In Denmark’s Group B opener, in the 41st minute, play was suspended following a medical emergency involving midfielder Christian Eriksen. UEFA later said in a statement that Eriksen’s condition had ‘stabilised’ after being taken to hospital and the match resumed later that evening.
Joel Pohjanpalo's header put Finland ahead after 60 minutes, and while the Danes were awarded a penalty, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg was unable to convert and Schmeichel’s side were beaten in their opening match in Copenhagen.
Next up came a clash with Belgium – the world’s no.1 ranked team – and with Castagne missing due to an injury that kept him out of the remainder of his nation’s games, Schmeichel lined up against fellow Fox Tielemans.
Although Yussuf Poulsen gave Denmark the lead after just two minutes, Belgium recovered and ran out as 2-1 winners following second-half strikes from Thorgan Hazard and Romelu Lukaku – leaving Schmeichel and his team-mates a huge task of qualifying for the knockout stages.
But a huge 4-1 triumph over Russia in their final Group B game – courtesy of strikes from Mikkel Damsgaard, Poulsen, Andreas Christensen and Joakim Mæhle – saw Denmark finish second in their pool to advance to the last-16.
It was in Amsterdam where Schmeichel would come up against a familiar face in Ward, who had starred for Wales in their group fixtures to set up a clash with Denmark for a spot in the quarter-finals.
However, it was Schmeichel who would emerge victorious, registering his first clean sheet of the tournament as the Danes beat 10-man Wales 4-0 thanks to two goals from Kasper Dolberg and late efforts from Mæhle and Martin Braithwaite.
That triumph would see the 1992 European champions take on Czech Republic in the last-eight in Baku, and while Patrik Schick reduced the deficit at the start of the second period, first-half efforts from Thomas Delaney and Dolberg were enough for the Danes to advance.
An encounter with England at Wembley next awaits Denmark, who are tasked with becoming the first team to score against Gareth Southgate’s men in the tournament as they contest their first semi-final in nearly three decades.
