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DPA
Copenhagen
Kevin De Bruyne came off the bench to assist Belgium’s equalizer then score the winner himself as they defeated an emotional Denmark 2-1 to reach the last 16 of Euro 2020 on Thursday.
Denmark were playing at their Parken Stadium in Copenhagen just a few hundred metres from where their player Christian Eriksen is recovering in hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest in their previous match with Finland on Saturday.
And they played with tremendous energy from when Yussuf Poulsen’s second minute goal inspired them to a furious first half in which world number one Belgium were made to look second rate.
“It was a bit emotional,” Poulsen said in first television interviews. “We had a super performance. This atmosphere with the home fans was brutal.” Belgium bided their time to level when De Bruyne set up Thorgan Hazard 10 minutes after the restart. The Manchester City midfielder, who came on at the interval in his return from facial injuries picked up in the Champions League final, then drilled the winner 20 minutes from time.
“The emotions is pride in the players, it was a real test for us,” said Belgium coach Robert Martinez, who acknowledged that early on “we weren’t ourselves, couldn’t do what we normally do – great credit to Denmark.
“But it’s how you react and we had a team which was fully committed.”
Belgium are through to the knock-outs with six points while Denmark, on zero, must beat Russia in their final game on Monday to have a chance. Russia have three points, as do debutants Finland who conclude against Belgium in St Petersburg.
Earlier Thursday it was announced Eriksen would be fitted with an ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator) to control his heart rate and the players said they would stop the game in the 10th minute for a round of applause from the 25,000-crowd in his honour.
By that point Denmark already led as Jason Denayer’s horrible pass straight to Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg allowed him to set up Poulsen for just his ninth international goal in 56 caps.
A red Danish whirlwind engulfed Belgium for 45 minutes though clear chances were rare. Martin Braithwaite headed just wide and youngster Mikkel Damsgaard also missed the target after a clever run.
De Bruyne was introduced at half-time but it was Denmark, and Thomas Delaney, who had the first sight of goal after the break.
Belgium levelled against the run of play when Eriksen’s Inter Milan team-mate Romelu Lukaku broke clear on the right and found De Bruyne, who in turn slid the ball to Hazard for a tap-in.
Denmark did not suddenly fal apart but each step became a fraction harder and Belgium edged back into things.
They needed only one more opportunity, when neat passing found De Bruyne on the edge of the box to guide a low shot into the bottom corner.
Denmark came within inches of levelling when Braithwaite headed onto the bar three minutes from time but the equalizer they deserved eluded them.
Copenhagen
Kevin De Bruyne came off the bench to assist Belgium’s equalizer then score the winner himself as they defeated an emotional Denmark 2-1 to reach the last 16 of Euro 2020 on Thursday.
Denmark were playing at their Parken Stadium in Copenhagen just a few hundred metres from where their player Christian Eriksen is recovering in hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest in their previous match with Finland on Saturday.
And they played with tremendous energy from when Yussuf Poulsen’s second minute goal inspired them to a furious first half in which world number one Belgium were made to look second rate.
“It was a bit emotional,” Poulsen said in first television interviews. “We had a super performance. This atmosphere with the home fans was brutal.” Belgium bided their time to level when De Bruyne set up Thorgan Hazard 10 minutes after the restart. The Manchester City midfielder, who came on at the interval in his return from facial injuries picked up in the Champions League final, then drilled the winner 20 minutes from time.
“The emotions is pride in the players, it was a real test for us,” said Belgium coach Robert Martinez, who acknowledged that early on “we weren’t ourselves, couldn’t do what we normally do – great credit to Denmark.
“But it’s how you react and we had a team which was fully committed.”
Belgium are through to the knock-outs with six points while Denmark, on zero, must beat Russia in their final game on Monday to have a chance. Russia have three points, as do debutants Finland who conclude against Belgium in St Petersburg.
Earlier Thursday it was announced Eriksen would be fitted with an ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator) to control his heart rate and the players said they would stop the game in the 10th minute for a round of applause from the 25,000-crowd in his honour.
By that point Denmark already led as Jason Denayer’s horrible pass straight to Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg allowed him to set up Poulsen for just his ninth international goal in 56 caps.
A red Danish whirlwind engulfed Belgium for 45 minutes though clear chances were rare. Martin Braithwaite headed just wide and youngster Mikkel Damsgaard also missed the target after a clever run.
De Bruyne was introduced at half-time but it was Denmark, and Thomas Delaney, who had the first sight of goal after the break.
Belgium levelled against the run of play when Eriksen’s Inter Milan team-mate Romelu Lukaku broke clear on the right and found De Bruyne, who in turn slid the ball to Hazard for a tap-in.
Denmark did not suddenly fal apart but each step became a fraction harder and Belgium edged back into things.
They needed only one more opportunity, when neat passing found De Bruyne on the edge of the box to guide a low shot into the bottom corner.
Denmark came within inches of levelling when Braithwaite headed onto the bar three minutes from time but the equalizer they deserved eluded them.
