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:
Slovenia 0-0 Denmark, 2 minutes
And Kristiansen rather niftily keeps the ball in up in the corner, spinning around the flag like a ballroom dancer. His ball in hits Slovenian legs but Denmark soon settle into their stride in possession.
Slovenia 0-0 Denmark, 1 minute
A 4-4-2, it appears from Slovenia, with Andraz Sporar supporting Benjamin Sesko. Denmark are looking to use the width, too, with Alexander Bah and Viktor Kirstiansen both pushing up the flanks either side of the back three.
Slovenia vs Denmark
Anthems done - it’s go time in Germany. Three points here for either side would be valuable in what looks a competitive group. It’s a Swiss officiating team led by referee Sandro Scharer and VAR Fedayi San.
Slovenia vs Denmark
Out the players come, every member of the Slovenia squad stepping on to the major tournament stage for the first time. Kasper Schmiechel skippers Denmark in the absence of Simon Kjaer, leading his team mates out alongside Slovenian counterpart Jan Oblak.
There look to be plenty in from both nations, with a capacity crowd at the MHP Arena in Stuttgart.
Benjamin Sesko spearheads Slovenia’s Euro 2024 assault as Arsenal and Chelsea watch on
Slovenia made the most of a favourable draw in the qualifiers for Germany 2024 to reach their second European Championship, 24 years after their debut appearance at the tournament.
They lost only twice as they finished second in Group H, level on points behind Denmark and ahead of Finland, Kazakhstan, Northern Ireland and San Marino, to book a place at the finals.
Participation in Germany will mark only the fourth major international tournament for the former Yugoslav republic, who have been playing as an independent entity since 1992.
As well as Euro 2000, where they drew two games and lost the other in the group phase, Slovenia also qualified for the World Cup in 2002 and 2010 but have yet to go beyond the group stage.
Victory over Algeria in South Africa in 2010 is their only success at a major tournament and came under coach Matjaz Kek, who has been back for a second spell since 2018 and engineered the latest qualification.
Benjamin Sesko spearheads Slovenia’s Euro 2024 assault as Arsenal watch on
The imposing RB Leipzig striker will be watched closely by Premier League clubs as he carries a nation’s hopes into this summer’s tournament
Slovenia vs Denmark
You’d imagine that Denmark are going to look to dominate the ball today. There’s plenty of experience with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Christian Eriksen in midfield, while Morten Hjulmand is a tidy player, too. Can Slovenia, and Benjamin Sesko particularly, get after the back three on the counter, though? Sesko may be six-foot-five but the Leipzig striker is such a smooth mover.
Slovenia boss Matjaz Kek wants his side to be fearless
Slovenia will embrace their moment in the spotlight at the European Championship and can spring a major upset, coach Matjaz Kek said on the eve of their Group C opener against Denmark on Sunday.
Slovenia return to the Euros for the second time having last featured in 2000. The team’s last international tournament was the 2010 World Cup, during Kek’s first spell as coach, so for his 26-man squad it is their first experience of the big stage.
A record number of Slovenian fans are expected at the match in Stuttgart - 503 kilometres from the former Yugoslav republic’s capital Ljubljana - and Kek said his side should revel in their underdog status.
“Why would you want to shut out this external noise? This is a privilege that our players have earned with their attitude and performances,” a smiling Kek told a press conference.
“Maybe they should have played at previous tournaments but we are here now. The majority of our young players have never experienced that, at club or national level.
“We are here at the highest level and I’m convinced that we will do everything to get a positive result, because you can be afraid even if you are a big name.”
Wout Weghorst finds perfect timing to reprise his role as Netherlands’ tournament super sub
It may be of scant consolation to Poland but the World Cup winners have suffered the same fate. A Netherlands manager, seeking a goal and a game-changing substitute, summoned Wout Weghorst. And, like a force of nature, he felt unstoppable. It wasn’t quite enough to eliminate Argentina in the World Cup quarter-final but, when Poland were closing in on a point in Euro 2024, Weghorst went from the bench to the scoresheet in two minutes.
Weghorst’s perfect timing to reprise his role as Netherlands’ tournament super sub
Poland 1-2 Netherlands: Gakpo equalised after Buksa’s opener before the Dutch impact sub scored late on
Christian Eriksen urges Denmark to stay calm on emotional Euros return
Christian Eriksen has called on Denmark to relax ahead of their Euro 2024 opener against Slovenia, which is set to be his first return to European Championship action since suffering a cardiac arrest on the pitch during the group stage three years ago.
The 32-year-old midfielder needed life-saving treatment when he collapsed against Finland at the tournament in 2021, postponed a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and scored against Netherlands on his emotional return for Denmark in March 2022.
England captain Harry Kane sent the Danes out in extra time of their Euro 2020 semi-final, but Eriksen insists his side have consigned that tournament to history.
He said: “I think (2021) were great memories. Of course it started very negative and very pessimistic, but later on everything got more optimistic and we got more free.
“But there’s been a lot of years since then, and we’re just going to focus on the games now, so as (head coach) Kasper Hjulmand said, we just have to do our best now and be relaxed.”
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