No victory for Eriksen: Denmark loses to Belgium

Supported by 25.000 loud spectators in Copenhagen, the co-hosts lost 1-2 (1-0) against World Cup third-placed Belgium on Thursday despite an early lead and a passionate performance and are facing an early exit from the European Championships. The 1992 European champions, who still had no points, are now bottom of the group behind Belgium (6), Russia (3) and Finland (3).

The comeback of Belgian top star Kevin de Bruyne from Manchester City, who came on as a substitute at the start of the second half in the Champions League final just two and a half weeks after breaking his eye socket and nose bone in the Champions League final, was crucial to the outcome of the game. The 29-year-old prepared Thorgan Hazard's equalizer (55th minute) and then scored the winning goal himself (71st). Yussuf Poulsen (2nd) gave the hosts an early lead and even increased the goosebumps atmosphere in the Parken Stadium. An emotional football game For the Danes, it was the expected emotional evening when they returned to the scene of their drama. In the stadium where the 29-year-old Eriksen collapsed and was resuscitated on the field last Saturday during the opening game against Finland (0-1), his teammates were cheered this time during the warm-up.

Denmark celebrates Poulsen's 1-0 win. © APA/afp / STUART FRANKLIN

Everyone contributed something to this overall experience in Eriksen's honor. Numerous fans came to the stadium with his name and number 10 on their jerseys. Posters like “Hele Danmerk er med dig, Christian” (All of Denmark is with you, Christian) hung on the stands.

Before the national anthems, the stadium management played the football anthem “You'll never walk alone”, which is otherwise played primarily at Liverpool FC as a symbol of solidarity. After ten minutes of play, referee Björn Kuipers from the Netherlands even interrupted the game so that all spectators and players could once again applaud loudly for Eriksen. Denmark is playing like crazy Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand had warned the day before that this huge wave of support could overwhelm his players. But what actually happened was what captain Simon Kjaer had already anticipated in his greeting message to the fans that afternoon: “We will enter the pitch with Christian in our hearts,” wrote the AC Milan defense chief. The fact that Eriksen is feeling better again is “the greatest motivation for all of us.”

Decided the game: Kevin De Bruyne. © APA/afp / WOLFGANG RATTAY

This released so much energy in the Danes that they literally attacked the Belgians using sporting means and threw themselves passionately into every ball and every duel. It had only been 99 seconds when the arena seemed to shake to its foundations. After a mistake in the Belgian defense, Poulsen got the ball and hit the corner with a precise low shot. It was the second fastest European Championship goal in history after Russia's Dmitri Kirichenko, who scored against Greece after just 2004 seconds in 65.

The Danes acted like they were crazy and didn't allow the Belgians to develop at all. But after the break came De Bruyne, who had missed the start of the European Championship against Russia (3-0). The Manchester City star got off to a good start when he set up Thorgan Hazard's equalizer with a cross pass. A little later, the blonde boy took the lead with a low shot into the near corner. Out of respect for Eriksen, he didn't celebrate his goal.

In the first game of the day they sat down Ukraine beat North Macedonia 2-1 . Group B, 2nd matchday Denmark – Belgium 1:2 Gates: 1:0 Poulsen (2nd), 1:1 Thorgan Hazard (55th), 1:2 De Bruyne (70th)

The other games Group C: Ukraine – North Macedonia 2-1 Gates: 1:0 Yarmolenko (29th), 2:0 Yaremchuk (34th), 2:1 Alioski (57th)

Group C: Austria – Netherlands (21 p.m.)

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No victory for Eriksen: Denmark loses to Belgium

Even a lot of heart and passion did not save Denmark from their second defeat at the European Football Championship in the first European Championship game after the dramatic collapse of top star Christian Eriksen.

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