If someone would have told us that Denmark would be a threat to reckon with by the end of the 2020 edition of the European Championship, it’d be hard to believe. But what a remarkable season the Danish have had! The odds were stacked against a team that otherwise boasted a youthful and exciting side.
A Horrific Beginning
If the odds weren’t enough, the Danes lost Christian Eriksen to a terrifying cardiac arrest during the opening game. Erikson recovered in a few hours, but Denmark ultimately lost to Finland in their first game. This meant that Denmark would have to make do without their midfield maestro for the rest of the tournament.
We can not ignore the way the team handled themselves. Losing a key member of the squad in an important tournament to a horrifying life-threatening situation isn’t something they came prepared for. But kudos to the management and the players for holding themselves up from the traumatic experience. Their performances were nothing short of absolutely exemplary. The ever-so-strong relationship between the team and their home fans grew manifold in a time of need.
A Breakout Star
With Christian Eriksen unavailable for the rest of the tournament, someone had to step up. Filling in Erikson’s shoes would be difficult. But it seems Mikkel Damsgaard took it upon himself to hold on to the mantle of the Danes. He emerged as their key creative force in the coming games against Belgium, Russi, Wales, and the Czech Republic. His name started hitting the newsstands.
The highlight of the 21-year-old’s tournament was an amazing dipping free-kick against England in the semi-final. Although the Danish side lost the match eventually, his performances throughout the tournament will be remembered.
A Relentless Team
After losing to one of the pre-tournament favorites, Belgium, Danes reinvented themselves in a way. Putting in some electrifying performances, they were stellar on the pitch. Netting 4 times against Russian in the final round of group games, was just the beginning. They had fought till the end to reserve a spot in the knock-outs.
Wales saw the wrath of a young and fierce Danish side. The young striker Kasper Dolberg went on to score two superb goals in a match where the Welsh were suffocated. A 4-0 victory for the Danes, meant that they had made it into the last eight. Dolberg struck again as the Danish won the quarter’s tie against the dangerous Czech Republic.
If someone wasn’t watching Denmark’s journey by now, they would have really wanted to have a look at their gameplay. The side played with a swagger that had been seen before. Electrifying football going forward combined with the Premier League stalwart Kasper Schmeichel proved a deadly combination for many. We really need to mention how great a tournament Schmeichel was having.
A Performance to Remember
Denmark began to seem like a force to reckon with. If they won the tournament, it would be one of the biggest upsets in sporting history. What an underdog story it’d have been if not for a dramatic exit in the semi-finals! Mikkel Damsgaard’s smoking hot free-kick to give them the lead against England sent the Danish fans into a dream of hope.
But it wasn’t to be this year. They exited the final four after a rather controversial late penalty saw England meet Italy in the finals. Honestly, Denmark deserved a more honorable treatment but looking back at the tournament one can only swoon. What a performance!
They have gone above and beyond and visibly their nation is incredibly proud of them. Their fighting spirits have gained them, admirers, worldwide. With the performances that the young side put up, this is definitely not the last we see of this Danish side.
