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:
England 1-1 Denmark
51 mins: Denmark are in no hurry. When they get the ball England sit off them, they’re walking around the pitch with no intensity. Bukayo Saka tries to make something happen with a dart into the box from the right.
He floats the ball over to Phil Foden who attempts to bring it under control and is forced to retreat.
England 1-1 Denmark
48 mins: Denmark come down the right and flick the ball into the penalty area.
Jonas Wind is on hand to take a shot but his effort gets blocked and loops into the air. Kieran Trippier’s attempted clearance is skewed into the air but Jordan Pickford trots over to safely smother it.
Second half! England 1-1 Denmark
Denmark get the ball rolling once again in Frankfurt. How will this second half play out for England? No changes from Gareth Southgate at the break.
HT England 1-1 Denmark
Euro 2024 has now seen 13 goals scored from outside the box, already more than in the entire group stage at Euro 2020 (12).
HT England 1-1 Denmark
Chief football writer Miguel Delaney reports from inside the ground:
Southgate badly needs to get a hold of midfield, and for that midfield to get a hold of the game. The most striking contrast between the teams - and the source of why Denmark are so on top - is the huge gaps between England's central players, while Denmark are constantly playing in these tight triangles. One team always has five yards between passes. The other... well, there's not even a consistency to that. It has again forced England back in that way that has become customary in big games under Southgate.
HT England 1-1 Denmark
Harry Kane is only the third player to score in four separate major tournaments for England (2018 World Cup, Euro 2020, 2022 World Cup, Euro 2024), after Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney.
‘People will feel disappointed’ says Southgate
The England boss has continued his media rounds and is now speaking with BBC radio saying: “We know people will be disappointed with our performances.
“At the moment we are not pressing with the intensity that we need to and that’s meaning we are having to sit be a bit deeper.
“They are the problems and we need to find the solutions. We need to asses the two performances and work through it together. If you allow players to pick passes then they can play passes which can hurt you.”
Gareth Southgate’s tactics in question
Jamie Carragher and Daniel Sturridge have questioned England’s tactics in that first half after they decided to sit back and defend a one goal lead.
They started well when in control of the ball but a great strike from Morten Hjulmand drew Denmark level.
England fans slam ‘disgrace of a pitch’ as injury risk at Euro 2024 game against Denmark
England were frustrated by the poor condition of the pitch at the Frankfurt Arena as players repeatedly lost their footing on the surface in the first half of their Euro 2024 fixture against Denmark.
The pitch was clearly cuttting up as England searched for a breakthrough goal, with right-back Kyle Walker escaping an injury after slipping and almost rolling over his left ankle.
The Manchester City full-back even changed his boots only minutes into the Group C fixture, but was then involved in the opening goal as he set up captain Harry Kane to fire England into the lead.
England fans slam ‘disgrace of a pitch’ as injury risk in game against Denmark
Several England players lost their footing in the first half against Denmark
Half-time! England 1-1 Denmark
45+1 mins: Phil Foden has a shy from the edge of the box and laces his effort over the top. The whistle goes to end an entertaining and mistake filled first half.
Everything is to play when the teams come back out. This one is delicately poised.
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