Denmark will play Wales in the last 16 of Euro 2020 after an emphatic victory over Russia in Copenhagen.
The Danes embraced each other at full-time, just nine days after team-mate Christian Eriksen collapsed on the same pitch in their tournament opener against Finland.
After suffering cardiac arrest Eriksen has since been discharged from hospital but the toll of an emotional last week was clear to see in Denmark’s players at full-time.
And throughout the match there were outbursts of roaring, delirious celebrations and passion from supporters in Copenhagen.
Knowing they needed to win and hoping Belgium beat Finland, the hosts did not hold back and Mikkel Damsgaard set the stage alight with an exquisite long-range opener.
Chelsea’s Andreas Christensen also thumped in a stunning strike late on as news of Belgium’s lead over Finland trickled into the stadium.
Yussuf Poulsen had put Denmark 2-0 up, pouncing on a poor backpass from Roman Zobnin, before Artem Dzyuba got one back for Russia from the penalty spot.
But Denmark confirmed their progression as runners-up when Christensen and Joakim Maehle made it 4-1 in a rampant three minutes.
The result left Russia, who started the night in second place, bottom of the table and out of the tournament.
Emotion, passion and delirium
The Parken Stadium was electric before kick-off as fans sang a passionate national anthem, but it was nothing compared to the scenes at full-time.
Players and staff were huddled in the centre of the pitch waiting for confirmation of Belgium’s victory over Finland and there was an almighty roar when the result came through.
Denmark needed a victory and they delivered for the fans – Damsgaard kicking things off with a moment of magic, becoming the country’s youngest goalscorer (20 years, 335 days) at a major tournament in the process.
Poulsen was drenched in beer thrown into the air by supporters when he netted Denmark’s second and though Dzyuba’s spot-kick created a moment of anxiety, it did not last long.
Denmark bombarded the Russian goal – keeper Matvey Safonov making a number of stunning saves – before Christensen’s thumping strike erupted the stadium once more.
Maehle’s composed finish capped it off and now Denmark head into the last 16 full of confidence with Wales awaiting next on Saturday, 26 June in Amsterdam.
Russia
-
Squad number16Player nameSafonovAverage rating
5.38
-
Squad number22Player nameDzyubaAverage rating
5.15
-
Squad number2Player nameMario FernandesAverage rating
5.01
-
Squad number17Player nameGolovinAverage rating
4.89
-
Squad number14Player nameDzhikiyaAverage rating
4.76
-
Squad number13Player nameKudryashovAverage rating
4.76
-
Squad number7Player nameOzdoevAverage rating
4.73
-
Squad number3Player nameDiveevAverage rating
4.71
-
Squad number11Player nameZobninAverage rating
4.66
-
Squad number15Player nameAl MiranchukAverage rating
4.60
-
Squad number23Player nameKuzyaevAverage rating
4.58
-
Squad number4Player nameKaravaevAverage rating
4.29
-
Squad number26Player nameMukhinAverage rating
4.07
-
Squad number9Player nameSobolevAverage rating
4.06
-
Squad number19Player nameZhemaletdinovAverage rating
3.95
Denmark
-
Squad number5Player nameMaehleAverage rating
8.69
-
Squad number14Player nameDamsgaardAverage rating
8.60
-
Squad number23Player nameHøjbjergAverage rating
8.53
-
Squad number6Player nameChristensenAverage rating
8.52
-
Squad number4Player nameKjaerAverage rating
8.25
-
Squad number20Player namePoulsenAverage rating
8.15
-
Squad number1Player nameSchmeichelAverage rating
8.05
-
Squad number8Player nameDelaneyAverage rating
8.03
-
Squad number15Player nameNørgaardAverage rating
7.98
-
Squad number12Player nameDolbergAverage rating
7.93
-
Squad number17Player nameStryger LarsenAverage rating
7.91
-
Squad number24Player nameJensenAverage rating
7.89
-
Squad number3Player nameVestergaardAverage rating
7.88
-
Squad number9Player nameBraithwaiteAverage rating
7.86
-
Squad number21Player nameCorneliusAverage rating
7.75
-
Squad number18Player nameWassAverage rating
7.75
Line-ups
Russia
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 16Safonov
- 14Dzhikiya
- 3DiveevBooked at 75mins
- 13KudryashovBooked at 28minsSubstituted forKaravaevat 67’minutes
- 2Figueira Fernandes
- 7OzdoevSubstituted forZhemaletdinovat 62’minutes
- 11Zobnin
- 23KuzyaevSubstituted forMukhinat 67’minutes
- 15Al MiranchukSubstituted forSobolevat 61’minutes
- 17Golovin
- 22Dzyuba
Substitutes
- 1Shunin
- 4Karavaev
- 5Semenov
- 6Cheryshev
- 8Barinov
- 9Sobolev
- 10Zabolotny
- 12Dyupin
- 19Zhemaletdinov
- 20Ionov
- 24Evgeniev
- 26Mukhin
Denmark
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Schmeichel
- 6Christensen
- 4Kjaer
- 3Vestergaard
- 18WassSubstituted forStryger Larsenat 60’minutes
- 23Højbjerg
- 8DelaneyBooked at 57minsSubstituted forJensenat 86’minutes
- 5Maehle
- 9BraithwaiteSubstituted forCorneliusat 85’minutes
- 14DamsgaardSubstituted forNørgaardat 72’minutes
- 20PoulsenSubstituted forDolbergat 60’minutes
Substitutes
- 2Andersen
- 7Skov
- 11Skov Olsen
- 12Dolberg
- 13M Jorgensen
- 15Nørgaard
- 16Lössl
- 17Stryger Larsen
- 19Wind
- 21Cornelius
- 22Rönnow
- 24Jensen
- Referee:
- Clément Turpin
- Attendance:
- 23,644
Live Text
Match ends, Russia 1, Denmark 4.
Full Time