Belgium wins in pain against Denmark, in a meeting marked by a tribute to Eriksen

A Belgium with two faces and a qualification, already, for the knockout stages. For their second match in this group B, the Red Devils faced, Thursday, June 17 at the Parken stadium in Copenhagen, a team from Denmark still marked by the heart disease suffered by Christian Eriksen on Saturday and his miraculous rescue.

Relive the match: Thanks to Kevin de Bruyne, Belgium win against Denmark

But, while doubts arose about their state of mind, the players of Kasper Hjulmand printed an intense rhythm from the first seconds of the match. Taking advantage of a recovery error from Jason Denayer, they opened the scoring in the 2e minute through Yussuf Poulsen. In front of a raging audience and thanks to a high pressing, the Danes did not slow down and managed to stifle the Belgian midfielder. The shots are linked: 9 against 1 Belgian side. At the break, however, the score was only 1-0 in favor of the Scandinavians.

Key entry from Kevin De Bruyne

From the start of the second half, the Spanish coach of Belgium, Roberto Martinez, brought in Kevin De Bruyne, back to competition after a “Slight intervention” in his left eye socket after a shock in the Champions League final lost with Manchester City against Chelsea.

In tribute to Christian Eriksen, a large jersey flocked to his name was displayed on the pitch before the match.

The attacking midfielder loving the ball, Belgium then goes up a notch… and manages to equalize. On a breakthrough from Lukaku, the Inter Milan striker center back for De Bruyne who, with a clever pass, shifts Thorgan Hazard who only has to push the ball into the empty goal (55e). Martinez then brought in the heavy artillery: Axel Witsel, also back after an Achilles tendon operation in January, and the team’s usual captain, Eden Hazard.

Read also: Between mishap and wounds, Belgium without certainties

Barely ten minutes later, De Bruyne concluded a superb collective action and allowed Belgium to take the lead (70e). Despite this turnaround, the Danes did not abdicate and even found the crossbar by Braithwaite in the 87e. But the Danes will not be able to equalize and suffer their second defeat in two games in this Euro. Unlike Belgium, which heads straight for the round of 16. This success obtained in pain will allow Roberto Martinez to blow some executives in the last match against Finland, Monday, and give playing time to others lacking rhythm.

The players and supporters applauded Christian Eriksen for a minute during the meeting.

The meeting was also marked by a tribute to Christian Eriksen, who watched the match from his hospital room. Before kick-off, a huge jersey with his name was displayed on the pitch. And at the 10e minute of play, like his number on the jersey, the players interrupted the match to applaud the midfielder, along with the 25,000 supporters present at the Parken stadium in Copenhagen.

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