MUNICH: Denmark came into their final Group C game with Serbia knowing that a draw would be enough to reach the last 16 of Euro 2024 and, while they dominated the game, their lack of cutting edge may cost them in the knockout stage.
In the end, three draws were all it took for the Danes to advance to face Germany, and also to take the runners-up spot ahead of Slovenia, who they had also faced in qualifying.
That qualifying group also finished with the two sides level on points, but Denmark had the better head-to-head record to top that group and in their 10 qualifying games the Danes only drew once.
At Euro 2024, on the other hand, they have yet to win.
Despite having more shots on goal and on target in all three games, and the majority of possession, it was the same again against a Serbian side desperate for a victory.
The Serbs knew that realistically a win would be needed to advance, and yet they managed only one shot on target which came in added time, at which stage they had thrown Dusan Vlahovic and Luka Jovic on, with Aleksandar Mitrovic already up front.
Denmark had 10 shots on goal in total, double the Serbian effort, and did manage to get three on target, but they were never going to throw caution to the wind, and collecting another draw was the real aim.
“We have progressed at the Euros, we have come second,” Danish midfielder Morten Hjulmand said.
“Of course we would have liked more points, but the goal was to advance from the group.
“It was a very tactical affair.
“In the second half, maybe we dropped a bit low because we knew that, with that result we would go through, while Serbia had to come forward and keep attacking.”
A tactical affair is a fair description of the game, with the Serbs waiting until the second half to take the shackles off, but unable to break down the Danish defence. — Reuters
