Gareth Southgate’s England look to be better against Christian Eriksen-inspired Denmark
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England manager Gareth Southgate (left) looks on at his players during a training session.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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FRANKFURT – If England tempered lofty expectations as favourites for Euro 2024 with an unconvincing 1-0 win over Serbia, the Three Lions will hope to make a firmer statement when they clash with Denmark on June 20.
Marauding midfielder Jude Bellingham’s first-half goal was the one bright spot in their Group C opener that likely sent Gareth Southgate back to the drawing board, as he continues to figure out how to make all his talented pieces fit.
“This team are still coming together,” the England boss said. “Everybody’s expecting us to waltz through, but there’s a lot of hard work ahead.”
On the heels of his outstanding season at Real Madrid, the 20-year-old Bellingham showed that he is ready to shoulder heavy expectations, joining fellow Englishman Michael Owen as the only players to score at both a European Championship and a World Cup before the age of 21.
Southgate was delighted with the player’s impact.
“He writes his own script,” the 53-year-old said. “The timing of his runs... and I think all of our forward players looked really good. I am confident we will score goals.”
On the defensive end, however, England had to fend off an attacking Serbia in the second half, and Southgate saw the positives of his patched-up backline being tested.
In his debrief, he will also have undoubtedly looked at the lack of productivity from defender Kieran Tripper and midfielder Phil Foden on the left side, particularly after Foden’s breakout season with Manchester City.
England were fortunate to open the tournament with a victory, but it did not entirely feel like one – and they have the chance to make amends and ramp up the feel-good factor against Denmark in Frankfurt.
The Danes, meanwhile, can exact some revenge against Southgate’s men, who edged them out 2-1 in the semi-finals of the 2020 European Championship at Wembley.
Kasper Hjulmand’s side drew 1-1 with Slovenia in their opener, where midfielder Christian Eriksen made an emotional Euro return.
Three years after he suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch at the last tournament, the veteran midfielder scored the Danes’ lone goal.
He was the only Danish player to maintain his level throughout the game, however, and they conceded an equaliser in what was a disappointing result.
Defender Jannik Vestergaard has since called on his teammates not to be overawed by the likes of England’s Harry Kane when the two sides meet.
“If doubt starts to creep in, it could be a really long day, so it’s sometimes important to maintain a kind of confidence that some would call naive,” he told broadcaster DR.
“But we believe in ourselves – if we don’t believe in ourselves, I don’t think anybody else will,” added the 31-year-old, who plays his club football for English side Leicester City.
Vestergaard will be keeping a particularly close eye on striker Kane, who played as a target man in the first half against the Serbs before dropping deeper in the second as Southgate instructed his players to defend their slender lead.
“He is a very complete striker who more or less has the whole package. He can play with his back to goal, he can make dangerous runs into the box, and he can threaten to go in behind,” the Dane said.
“So in that way it’s hard to play against him, but it’s also a fun challenge.”
In the other Group C game, Slovenia are brimming with confidence ahead of their clash against Serbia after snatching a point against Denmark.
Participating in their second European Championship 24 years after their debut appearance at the tournament, Slovenia know a win will put them in a good position to advance to the knockout stage.
“The second match will definitely be easier. This point gave us additional confidence,” midfielder Timi Elsnik told Slovenian news outlet Dnevnik.
“We know what a win against Serbia brings.” REUTERS
