England vs Denmark LIVE: Final score as Southgate gives blunt verdict after Three Lions booed at Euro 2024
Harry Kane gave England the lead before Southgate’s side dropped off with Denmark hitting back to secure a point in Frankfurt
England were far from convincing in a 1-1 draw with Denmark on Thursday, even if it likely ensured advancing to the round of 16 at the European Championship.
Harry Kane gave England another fast start at Euro 2024, scoring it the 18th minute, but the captain was substituted off in the second half as the team faded. England coach Gareth Southgate removed his forward line in a triple substitution with 25 minutes to play.
Denmark leveled in the 34th when Morten Hjulmand fired in a powerful low shot from long distance, after Kane gave away the ball in defense. The Danes made England look ragged in the second half, attacking the end from where English fans’ anxiety and jeers increased late in the game. England has four points from two games, after edging past Serbia 1-0 in its first match.
That points tally always has been enough to advance in the 24-team Euros format. Still, England can finish in any position from first to third in the Group C standings after playing unbeaten Slovenia next Tuesday.
Slovenia drew 1-1 with Serbia earlier Thursday, four days after getting the same result against Denmark. Serbia and Denmark also play Tuesday evening. Relive all the action and reaction from England v Denmark below:
Thomas Frank says Southgate still working out his best team
Thomas Frank speaking as a pundit on BBC One: “Kane is a fantastic goalscorer, but how do you get the team to work the right way [around him]? No doubt Gareth is searching for the best line-up.
“I think he was brave taking him off today and he was proactive in trying to change the game.”
Kyle Walker defends England performance
The right-back spoke to the BBC in the immediate aftermath of England’s draw with Denmark and took the opportunity to remind everyone that the team are still top of the group and on course to qualify for the next round.
Here’s his full post-match interview:
Rio Ferdinand criticises state of pitch in England’s game against Denmark
Rio Ferdinand criticised the state of Frankfurt Arena’s pitch during England’s Euro 2024 game against Denmark on Thursday evening.
Kyle Walker was forced to change his boots just 10 minutes into the game as match footage captured players sliding on the turf and large chunks cutting up.
Discussing the state of the pitch, BBC Match of the Day commentator Rio Ferdinand said it looked like players “needed rollerskates”.
The Group C match finished 1-1 after Harry Kane’s 18th minute opener was cancelled out by Morten Hjulmand equaliser 20 minutes later.
Harry Kane reacts to Denmark draw
Harry Kane gave an honest assessment of England’s performance and admits the team knows they can improve. He told the BBC: “I think we said before the tournament there’s no easy games and I think that’s showing.
“We’ve got levels we can reach and we can be better both with and without the ball. I think the sign of a good team is when you’re not playing at your best and still find a way to get results like we have in the last two games.
“We’re top of the group. We know we can improve. I know there will probably loads of noise and a bit of disappointment back home but we experienced this in the last Euros as well when we drew to Scotland.
“Step by step, we’ll get there.”
‘The Trent experiment’ and no pressing: Are pundits right to be so critical of England tactics?
No pressing from Harry Kane. No cohesion in midfield. No pace in attack, no runners beyond the defence, not enough pressure on the ball.
Listen to the BBC Sport half-time talk on England’s Euro 2024 match against Denmark and you might be forgiven for thinking the Three Lions trailed by a couple of goals or were in danger of heading out of the tournament, not level at 1-1 and top of the as-it-stands group table.
It all echoed of we’re not creative enough, we’re not possibly good enough.
If you know, you know.
‘The midfield experiment’: Are pundits right to be so critical of England midfield?
Alan Shearer and the BBC pundits were scathing of Gareth Southgate’s set-up
FT England 1-1 Denmark
Gary Lineker assessing Harry Kane’s performance against Denmark: “As a striker you have two jobs, score goals, which Harry Kane has been good at all his career, and make space.
“He needs his manager to come to him and ask a little bit more of him. I would have expected that if I’d put in that kind of performance.
“Against a back three he has to stretch the play, run one way and then come short so you don’t have to come too far to receive it. He needs to make more space for the midfield players behind him to create chances.”
Harry Kane subbed off in England’s tie with Denmark as Alan Shearer praises Gareth Southgate’s bold move
Alan Shearer praised Gareth Southgate’s bold second-half substitutions as the manager brought off his goalscoring captain Harry Kane in a bid to turn the tide.
England endured a frustrating evening in Frankfurt after Kane’s early goal was cancelled out by Morten Hjulmand’s stunning long-range strike to leave the Group C match level at half-time.
And as England continued to toil in the second half, struggling to make clear chances and keep hold of the ball for sustained periods, Southgate turned to his bench for inspiration.
Alan Shearer hails bold move to sub Harry Kane: ‘It had to be done’
Kane was replaced midway through the second half in a surprise move by England manager Southgate
England vs Denmark player ratings as Walker shines but Alexander-Arnold struggles again
England struggled in their second match at Euro 2024, escaping with a point after a 1-1 draw against an impressive Denmark on Thursday night.
Harry Kane opened his Euro 2024 account in the 18th minute before Denmark equalised through Morten Hjulmand’s long-range strike as the Danes came back strong at the end of the first-half.
Denmark had the better of the chances in the second-half as England wilted late on, but ultimately it was a point apiece in Frankfurt.
England face Slovenia in their final Group C clash on Tuesday night, while Denmark take on Serbia.
But how did each player perform? Here are The Independent’s player ratings:
England vs Denmark player ratings after Euro 2024 clash in Frankfurt
England 1-1 Denmark: Gareth Southgate’s side struggle to draw against impressive Danes as Harry Kane opens account but is then substituted on difficult afternoon for Three Lions
FT England 1-1 Denmark
No player created more chances (3) or played more line-breaking passes in the final third (5) for England against Denmark than Trent Alexander-Arnold, despite him being subbed off in the 54th minute.
FT England 1-1 Denmark
Here’s what Alan Shearer thinks of that England performance: “Gareth Southgate will get serious questions. You see the players out there:
“Phil Foden and what he has done all season for Manchester City, Jude Bellingham turning up in the first game and not so much tonight, John Stones and what we have seen him do at club level.
“There is far more to get out of those players than he is getting at the moment.”
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