Slovenia and Denmark played out Euro 2024’s first draw, after Christian Eriksen’s opener was cancelled out by Erik Janza in a stop-start 1-1 draw in Stuttgart. It’s a result that will suit both England and Serbia as the other two teams in Group C.
Three years since the footballing world stood still, Eriksen produced a magical display in midfield for Denmark, but his side were unable to convert their possessional dominance into victory.
Eriksen collapsed in Denmark’s opening game of Euro 2020 against Finland after he suffered a cardiac arrest and received life-saving treatment on the pitch before eventually being resuscitated and taken to hospital. There was genuine concern that the then-Inter Milan player would not leave the pitch alive that day, let alone step onto the field of play again.
But Eriksen – appearing in his first European Championship game since that life-changing moment – produced one of his finest displays in recent memory.
His intelligence and technical quality were on display for the game’s opening goal. Alexander Bah took advantage of a lapse in concentration in the Serbia box to fire a quick throw-in into the feet of Jonas Wind. Wind then skilfully flicked the ball into the path of Eriksen, who expertly controlled on his chest before poking past Jan Oblak.
That goal saw him become the third oldest player to score for Denmark at a major tournament, and oldest to do so at the European Championships.
Eriksen, who made just 12 starts in a difficult domestic season with Manchester United, was on sparkling form, finding pockets of space in front of the Slovenian back four to get on the ball, turn, and feed his strikers.
He took five shots in the game, and created a further seven chances for teammates, becoming one of just two players to record both 5+ shots and create 5+ chances in a Euros match since the beginning of Euro 2020 (along with Gareth Bale for Wales against Turkey)
But Denmark, who completed 582 passes – the most they’ve ever completed in a single match at either a European Championship or a World Cup game on record – could only muster that one goal in the first half and then lost fluency and incision in the second period.
With the game at 1-0, Slovenia were always in the game and grew in confidence as the matched ticked by.
Their attacking threat was sporadic, but when it did come it was mainly via the aerial route, with crosses and long throws into the box their best way of generating chances.
Adam Gnezda Cerin and Andraz Sporar both should have done better with chances from such situations, before Janza finally made their aerial danger count.
A corner from the right bounced its way across the area and sat up perfectly for him to slam home from the edge of box via a deflection of Morten Hjulmand.
That had come just moments after Benjamin Sesko had cracked the post with a fizzing volley. The RB Leipzig man didn’t see a lot of the ball, but flashed his obvious talent when the opportunity arose, going close on two occasions. Denmark had clearly identified him as Slovenia’s major threat, given he was fouled (4) more times than any other player on the pitch. He’s one to watch as the tournament progresses.
Rasmus Højlund had Denmark’s best chance of the second half, stretching at the back post to tap in a low cross by marauding wing-back Victor Kristiansen but Jan Oblak smothered his effort. Kasper Hjulmand’s side will be disappointed at how much their attacking potency fizzled out in the second period.
This draw opens the door for England to take a stranglehold on Group C as they prepare for their opening game against Serbia later tonight.
