Semi-finals – Denmark knocked the Czech Republic out of the tournament

Denmark experienced the next high point on their emotional EM trip and can now even dream of their second title 29 years after the surprise triumph. Thanks to a strong first half, coach Kasper Hjulmand’s team won the quarterfinals of two outsiders against the Czech Republic on Saturday in Baku in front of 16,306 spectators with 2-1 (2-0) and is among the top four for the first time since 1992.

Driven by a good 1000 fans who traveled with them, who also sent a message to Christian Eriksen, Borussia Dortmund’s Thomas Delaney (5th minute) headed and Kasper Dolberg (42nd) after a dream cross from Joakim Maehle scored the goals for Denmark. The Scandinavians will now face the winner of the match between England and Ukraine in London on Wednesday. For the Czechs, Bayer Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick’s fifth goal (49th), which equalized Milan Baros’ national record, was not enough.

Danes are in the majority in the stands

In the remake of the 2004 European Championship quarter-finals, which the Czech Republic had won 3-0 at the time, both coaches believed that their recently ailing Bundesliga professionals Vladimir Darida and Yussuf Poulsen could only play joker roles. Jaroslav Silhavy put his regular Hertha BSC captain Darida on the bench as did his Danish counterpart Hjulmand the Leipzig striker Poulsen. Both had reported fit in the run-up to the game.

In the humid evening heat of Baku, the Danish fans outnumbered the stands in the stands. Many had already celebrated themselves warmly during the day in the park Khagani Garden in the capital of Azerbaijan. The association had given 50 of the most loyal supporters the plane ticket and the entrance ticket for the quarter-finals, more than 1000 fans undertook the long journey to the Caspian Sea.

The emotional bond between the supporters and the team had become even closer during the tournament due to the drama about Eriksen, who almost died in the first game. In a block with Danish fans there was a poster that read: “FOR CHRIS10AN”. Before the game, as in previous games, a jersey with the number 10 was spread out on the lawn.

The lead falls after five minutes

The Danes then took the initiative in the game, let the ball run nicely and scored the 1-0 after five minutes and the first, albeit controversial, corner. Dortmund’s Delaney came free after Jens Stryger Larsen’s cross to head the ball and sank the ball into the goal of the Czechs as an unsustainable touchdown. Shortly thereafter, Mikkel Damsgaard had the chance to 2-0 after a counterattack. But Vladimir Coufal intercepted the ball for the defeated goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik in front of the line. In the 17th minute, a ball from Delaney’s knee hissed just past the post.

After a good 20 minutes, the Czechs also had their first chance. Denmark’s goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel played a bad pass that landed at Lukas Masopust. This served Tomas Holes, who failed because of the quick-reacting flattery. Overall, the Czech Republic came into the game better after falling behind. However, Schick was still signed off at the beginning. The Danes switched to counterattack. On these occasions it was 2-0. Ex-Bremer Jannik Vestergaard played a through pass to Maehle, who crossed into the penalty area from the left with the outside instep. There Dolberg only had to hold out his foot.

The Czechs pushed for the next goal after the break. After Schmeichel parried a shot from Antonin Barak (47th), he was powerless shortly afterwards against Schick to make it 1: 2 (49th) when the latter shot a pass from Coufal into the goal. In the game, which became more and more confused with increasing playing time, the substitute Poulsen had the chance to make a preliminary decision in the 78th minute, but Vaclik parried brilliantly. In the final phase, the Czechs intensified their equalization efforts, and Darida was also allowed on the field. But even the last desperate attempts to attack remained unsuccessful – the Danish party in the stands was able to start.