Can Denmark really win the Euro 2020 tournament?

24/06/21 1434

Denmark did the unthinkable on the final day of Group B, qualifying for the last 16. Kasper Hjulmand’s team needed a win and to get help elsewhere while overturning a poor goal difference.

The Danes, who have played well at the Euro 2020 tournament in spite of the near-tragic death of Christian Eriksen, won 4-1 against Russia. The team stepped up to win and now go into the last 16 having received a favourable draw.

The national team would have been forgiven for being eliminated from the Euros at the group stage due to Eriksen’s collapse on matchday 1 of Group B and the emotional toll it took on teammates.

Yet, the side rallied together to push Belgium to the brink before thrashing Russia.

Now, Wales embark on a last 16 game in Amsterdam against Wales. The Danes can certainly defeat Wales and their route to the semifinals isn’t one to fear.

A win versus Wales, a team that scored three goals and conceded two in the group stage, would put Denmark up against either the Netherlands or the third-place team from Group D or F (Portugal, Germany, Hungary, France, or the Czech Republic).

Hjulmand’s team will avoid Belgium or Italy on the way to the final as the two teams are in the upper half of the Euro 2020 tournament bracket.

In fact, Italy and Belgium are on course to play in the quarterfinals and one of the two current tournament favourites will go home.

Denmark are already the Cinderella team of the Euros. The win against Russia could be the catalyst to the side pushing on and reach deep into the tournament. Fortunately, they could take an extreme negative and turn it into a positive.

Striker Yussuf Poulsen leads the way in goals for Denmark with two in three games. He tallied the game winner versus Russia thanks to pouncing on a mistake by the opposition’s defence. Mikkel Damsgaard has been the team’s standout player.

His exceptional long-range effort got Denmark off the mark and on pace to win the game. The Sampdoria man is likely to see a lot of attention from clubs outside of Italy post-Euros.

Nearly as exceptional has been Atalanta wing-back Joakim Maehle. He scored the final goal of the team’s 4-1 win versus the Russians but was dangerous throughout the game.

Denmark could go all the way to the final. What they may now lack in attack, they make up for in determination.

Hjulmand and company could turn the negative of Eriksen’s collapse into a positive by winning the Euros.

The Danes are at 22/1 odds to win the tournament. Those are long-shot odds, but what miracle team were ever considered favourites?