Denmark is responsible for the fairy tale of this European Football Championship. Raised after the shock of the collapse of playmaker Christian Eriksen. Fighting against the impending end. Victory, jubilant, amazed in disbelief at your own performance. A big winner even without a title.
For a brief moment there was a huge emotional discrepancy in the Copenhagen stadium on this very emotional Monday evening. Most of the 25,000 spectators in the stands escalated and celebrated Denmark’s entry into the round of 16 of the European Football Championship. But it was quiet in the square. The team around coach Kasper Hjulmand had come together in a circle, a supervisor held his cell phone in the middle. What could be seen on it was captured by a TV camera: a live ticker. That of the parallel game between Belgium and Finland. It was 2-0, Denmark would be in the knockout round, but celebrating too early has been one of the things that should be avoided at least since the four minutes and 38 seconds of FC Schalke 04. The pain would be even greater.
But then the tension in the Danish team was released. Hopping, hugs, a wave of euphoria with the fans. The live ticker switched to the final score. Nobody wearing the colors of Denmark wanted to leave the stadium so quickly. “If anyone deserves it, it’s these players,” said coach Hjulmand: “I can’t understand how they did it after what they went through. We’ve been together for four weeks now and it’s crazy what the players went through so big, big compliments and congratulations to the guys. “
Nine days after the shock
It was the overwhelming, temporary end to a roller coaster ride that Denmark had been through in the past ten days. Three points in the last group game, one win, are enough to make sure you get through to second place in the group. After Christian Eriksen’s collapse on the pitch at the first game. After his near death, after his revival on the pitch, after the anxious minutes with shocked fellow players, fans and millions of TV viewers. It was the temporary high point that UEFA had almost screwed up. Because they let Denmark play their interrupted game under dubious circumstances, even though several players said afterwards that they were unable to do so.
The game against Finland, which was interrupted for almost two hours, was lost, as was the strong game against even stronger Belgians. The chances of progress were slim before the kick-off against Russia. Zero points, only one goal in 180 minutes. And then it wasn’t just your own result that was decisive. But there was support from Belgium. Ironically, Eriksen’s friend and teammate Romelu Lukaku provided the necessary support for Denmark with his goal to beat Finland 2-0. Late, barely tolerable for the nerves, but in time.
“Great Comeback”
“Christian wrote to our Whatsapp group immediately after the game. It was great to hear from him,” said defender Jens Stryger Larsen. And even Finland, threatened by third place in the group’s opening win, congratulated: “It’s a great comeback for the Danes. They have shown high quality and great mentality,” said national coach Markku Kanerva. Hjulmand found moving words: “I was really hoping we would have a magical evening tonight. These footballers played their way into the hearts of the Danes. They gave the boys and girls some idols at home. And I’m just so happy about it. “
It was of course not because of the god of football that Denmark won their game. Although that certainly makes some doubting fans believe again. It was the attitude, the performance of the Danes that brought the victory. Among other things, it was defender Andreas Christensen who scored a dream goal at 3-1 (78th). A huge beam from the back area, which Christensen slammed under the crossbar with his instep, after the ping-pong-style ball had not gone into the goal in the penalty area.
It was part of the emotional roller coaster ride that it was 0-0 for a long time in the parallel game, then Denmark would have remained behind Finland despite the victory. It was also part of the fact that an alleged opening goal by Lukaku was not given – his little toe was offside. And it is also part of the fact that Russia was awarded a controversial penalty and thus scored the next goal, but after a supposedly comfortable 2-0 lead, things became tight again for Denmark. Before Christensen scored perfectly and Joakim Maehle got the final score.
“Gave Us So Much Love”
Until the whistle ended in all seats. Until the tension was released. “The Danes gave us wings. They gave us so much love. Without them, none of this would have been possible,” said Hjulmand. The only 20-year-old scorer to make it 1-0, Mikkel Damsgaard, said: “I could never have dreamed of being part of something so big. So it’s a great feeling. The last game against Belgium was the greatest what I’d ever experienced. But this beats that experience again. “
The collective frenzy of joy will no longer exist for Denmark at this European Championship. A round of 16 will take place in the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, but without Danish participation. For the team from Hjulmand it goes to the round of 16 in Amsterdam. There is the knockout duel with Wales (June 26, 6 p.m. in the ntv.de live ticker). No impossibility for Denmark, no seemingly overpowering opponent. A realistic chance of getting ahead again.
A game after scorer Christensen may remember his words: “I can’t describe how we feel. We believed in each other, now we’re on.”
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