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:
Euro 2024: Poland vs Netherlands LIVE
In the absence of Lewandowski, the goalscoring burden will fall primarily to Adam Buksa, who plays in Turkey with Antalyaspor. He has six goals in 15 caps so far, the 27-year-old, with teenager Kacper Urbanski and the talented Sebastian Szymanski providing support from either side.
They have nine goals in 51 caps between them - Lewandowski has 82 in 150, so the gulf in experience is clear.
Kamil Grosicki is the second-highest scorer in the squad incidentally, with 17, but he doesn’t start either.
Euro 2024: Poland vs Netherlands LIVE
Plenty of people expected Jeremie Frimpong to be playing a big role for the Dutch at the Euros after a standout campaign with Bayer Leverkusen - but it’s the more experienced head that Ronald Koeman turns to again in Denzel Dumfries at right-back.
Frimpong has played right wing in a 4-3-3 for the Dutch in the buildup too, so we could see him in a more advanced role later in the game.
Notable too, perhaps, that Wijnaldum has been left out after previously being a go-to in the No10 role. Reijnders has that spot today.
Euro 2024: Poland vs Netherlands LIVE
The atmosphere is building ahead of kick-off for what is a big game for both these nations, with both having suffered some injuries in the lead-up to the tournament.
For the Poles, the big miss is of course Lewandowski, who is sub.
The Dutch team had to leave Frenkie de Jong and Teun Koopmeiners out entirely ahead of the tournament.
Euro 2024: Poland vs Netherlands LIVE
Dutch fans are certainly enjoying themselves ahead of the start of their Euros campaign!
Euro 2024: Poland vs Netherlands LIVE
Around 45 minutes to kick-off in Hamburg.
As a reminder, following this Group D match it’s straight onto Group C, with England in action tonight, before Group C’s other fixture sees Austria and France do battle tomorrow at 8pm, following the Group E games. Hope that’s clear...!
Poland vs Netherlands confirmed lineups
The teams are in!
Poland: Szczesny, Bednarek, Salamon, Kiwior, Frankowski, Zielinksi, Romanchuk, Zalewski, S Szymanski, Buksa, Urbanski
Netherlands: Verbruggen, Dumfries, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Ake, Schouten, Veerman, Simons, Reijnders, Gakpo, Depay
Luka Modric, the problem with ageing, and the worst day for Croatia’s best generation
It only took Luka Modric 18 years. In 2006, the summer before Lamine Yamal was born, he was an unused substitute against Brazil at Berlin’s Olympiastadion. He didn’t quite get on the pitch then – blame manager Zlatko Kranjcar for that one – but a remarkable longevity took him back to Berlin, into historic company. For the Croatia captain, playing in a ninth major tournament meant he joined only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lothar Matthaus among Europeans. A few months before his 39th birthday, he became the oldest ever player at European Championships; though perhaps only for a few days, until Ronaldo and Pepe go past him.
A day of record-breakers, however, became an advertisement for youth, rather than experience. Lamine Yamal, the youngest footballer ever at this level, some 22 years Modric’s junior, delivered a star turn. Croatia lost 3-0 to Spain. It wasn’t quite as dramatic a case of a glorious career ending at the Olympiastadion as Zinedine Zidane’s, later in the 2006 World Cup, but it was a day to prompt questions. Are Croatia, finally, too old? Will time eventually catch up with the timeless Modric, boyish as his physique remains, baggy as the shorts are?
Luka Modric and the problem with ageing
Modric, 38, was replaced after 65 minutes as Croatia were beaten 3-0 by Spain at Euro 2024
Poland vs Netherlands confirmed line-ups
Poland XI: Szczesny, Bednarek, Salamon, Kiwior, Frankowski, Zielinski, Romanchuk, Zalewski, Sebastian Szymanski, Buksa, Urbanski.
Netherlands XI: Verbruggen, Dumfries, de Vrij, van Dijk, Ake, Schouten, Veerman, Simons, Reijnders, Gakpo, Depay
Robert Lewandowski is named on the bench for Poland, but isn’t expected to feature.
Lamine Yamal dazzles as face of new Spain to validate clever swap at Euro 2024
A new Spain, in more ways than one. As Lamine Yamal, who was not even a year old when they won Euro 2008, became first the youngest footballer to play in a European Championships and then, before half-time, the youngest to set up a goal in one, Luis de la Fuente’s side made a break with the past.
With less possession and more potency, Spain looked a team trying to cast off the influence of their champion sides. They had 47 percent of the ball but scored three goals. After going out of successive World Cups in knockout games where they attempted over 1,000 passes each, but seemed to show precious little interest in scoring, this was Spain, but not as we knew them.
By Richard Jolly at the Olympiastadion
Lamine Yamal dazzles as face of new Spain to validate overdue change
Spain 3-0 Croatia: La Roja shine in Berlin behind an unusual mix of players, signalling evolution under coach Luis de la Fuente
Hamburg police shoot man near Euro 2024 fan park ‘threatening officers with pickaxe’
Police cordon off area near fanpark following shooting of person threatening them with axe and “incendiary device”.
German newspaper Bild reported that the incident took place at 12:30pm local time, with the man attacking a police officer using a gold-tinted hammer.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments