Slovenia vs Denmark LIVE: Euro 2024 result and reaction as Janza grabs draw after emotional Eriksen goal
Slovenia 1-1 Denmark: Christian Eriksen scored a goal that tugged on the heartstrings in his first Euros appearance since collapsing on the pitch but Denmark could only earn a point
Slovenia fought back to earn a battling point against Denmark as Christian Eriksen was denied an emotional winner on his return to European Championship football.
Danish talisman Eriksen suffered a heart attack in their Euro 2020 opener against Finland, but looked to have set his side on course for victory three years on after finishing off a clever move from a throw-in on the right. Eriksen, who had to be brought back to life when he last featured in the Euros, was mobbed by his team mates after giving his side a 17th-minute lead.
But despite dominating possession, Denmark struggled to create clear openings, with Jan Oblak forced into only one save from a sliding Rasmus Hojlund. It left them vulnerable to a late Slovenia leveller, which arrived mere moments after striker Benjamin Sesko had struck the woodwork from distance: a bouncing ball was lashed into Morten Hjulmand by left-back Erik Janza, deflecting past a helpless Kasper Schmeichel in goal to earn Slovenia a 1-1 draw and a potentially valuable point.
Denmark, though, will have disappointed to have ceded a position of strength with tough fixtures against England and Serbia to come in Group C at Euro 2024.
Re-live all of the action from Denmark v Slovenia:
Christian Eriksen does the impossible yet again in surreal full-circle moment at Euro 2024
You have to wonder what sort of thoughts were swirling around Christian Eriksen’s head, as the Denmark talisman waited for the first whistle to sound. It would be understandable if some of them were dark, frightening, or even traumatic. For the last time he began a European Championship campaign, three summers ago, Eriksen died for five minutes.
That day in Copenhagen, as Denmark faced Finland, Eriksen was not brought back from the brink – he had passed it. He was brought back from the beyond.
Naturally, after being resuscitated from his cardiac arrest, he could not leave the pitch under his own power. Instead, he was carefully lifted off the turf and carried off the field, as his wife and teammates tearfully feared the worst and hoped for the best – whatever that could possibly mean.
That moment, of course, could have marked the end of Eriksen’s career. Frankly, it could have marked the end. Full stop. Yet on a spring Sunday in Stuttgart, 1,100 days later, here he stood.
Christian Eriksen does the impossible yet again in surreal full-circle moment
Slovenia 1-1 Denmark: Three years after collapsing in his nation’s opening Euros game, the midfielder scored to earn the Danes a point in Group C
Slovenia strike to earn point against Denmark
That’s that from our coverage of Slovenia against Denmark, a point apiece leaving a real opportunity for Serbia or England to seize control of this group. The team news from Gelsenkirchen is in, with an anticipated bold call made by Gareth Southgate - you can follow all of the twists and turns across the evening with my colleague Chris Wilson here:
Serbia v England LIVE: Euro 2024 line-ups and latest updates
The Three Lions are among the favourites to triumph but have a new-look squad in Germany
FT: Slovenia 1-1 Denmark
A disappointing result for Denmark, you’d say, having led for so long and spent so much of the encounter in control of ball and contest. But having taken a first-half lead through Christian Eriksen - a fitting scorer on his return to Euros football 1100 days from his on-pitch collapse - the Danes largely failed to trouble Jan Oblak, one sharp save from Rasmus Hojlund about all the Slovenian shot-stopper was forced into in the second half.
By contract, Marjas Kek’s side grew into it, Erik Janza’s deflected equaliser coming mere moments after Benjamin Sesko had rattled the woodwork. They’ll be rather more pleased to have pinched a point ahead of fixtures against Serbia and England to come.
Slovenia 1-1 Denmark, 90 + 3 minutes
Frustrated faces in the Danish sections of MHP Arena.
Slovenia remove both strikers: Andraz Sporar and Benjamin Sesko are replaced by the rather more defensively-minded Jasmin Kurtic and David Brekalo for the little that remains.
Slovenia 1-1 Denmark, 90 + 3 minutes
Denmark have six men in the box but to no avail. Erik Janza, whose been excellent at both ends of the pitch today, wins a key defensive header.
Slovenia 1-1 Denmark, 90 + 2 minutes
Yussuf Poulsen and Kasper Dolberg both go after a raking pass that pitches and curls past Jan Oblak’s goal. Neither is particularly close to it.
Slovenia 1-1 Denmark, 90 minutes
Kasper Hjulmand removes midfield namesake Morten (no relation) as his final change. Thomas Delaney is on.
Four minutes for either side to find a winner.
Slovenia 1-1 Denmark, 87 minutes
Denmark need to find a way to lift the energy again. Despite having nearly 70% of the ball, they’ve created just three shots on goal, the latest of which gently trims the grass on the way through to Jan Oblak.
Slovenia 1-1 Denmark, 84 minutes
A triple substitution for Denmark. Both strikers are removed - Yussuf Poulsen and Kasper Dolberg on for Rasmus Hojlund and Jonas Wind - while the fresh legs of Christian Norgaard are required in midfield. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is the other man replaced.
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