38′ Goal Mikkel Krogh Damsgaard
P. Højbjerg
Assist
38′ Assist Pierre-Emile Kordt Højbjerg
37′ The Russians are defending stoutly but Denmark are trying to ramp things up a gear. Damsgaard floats a pass into the box for Poulsen but Kudryashov wins the header.
35′ Denmark aren’t really getting anywhere fast. Russia force the hosts back again and Schmeichel sends his clearance out for a throw-in.
33′ Russia take their time over a throw-in, attracting the ire of the home fans. The visitors are not exactly being subtle in their timewasting. Dzyuba eventually nods the ball down to Golovin who sends it way over.
32′ Fernandes reads a Danish pass well and is rewarded by getting scythed down by Damsgaard.
31′ That Hojbjerg shot was Denmark’s first attempt on goal despite the hosts having over 70 per cent possession so far. The Danes have lacked bite in this opening half hour.
30′ Chance for Denmark! Hojbjerg lets rip from outside the box. His effort whistles just wide of the left-hand post. That would have been an incredible goal had it gone in.
29′ Damsgaard drifts into the box but is seen off by Kudryashov. Russia have started this game very solidly.
F. Kudryashov
Yellow Card
28′ Kudryashov picks up the game’s first yellow card for a late aerial challenge on Wass. Wass was always going to win the header.
27′ Russia get a free-kick down their left and take it short to Miranchuk who sends it into the mixer. Maehle plays the pass off Ozdoev for a Denmark throw-in.
25′ Poulsen has the ball taken off his toes by Ozdoev. The Dane challenges Ozdoev and ends up bringing him down, giving away a foul. The home crowd boo their disapproval.
23′ Golovin’s caught offside from Ozdoev’s sweeping ball out wide. Ozdoev has been tenacious for Russia in midfield at the start of this half.
22′ Maehle cries out for a pass from Delaney and Delaney obliges to send Maehle scampering into the penalty area. Fernandes holds his ground to win a free-kick.
21′ Russia attack Denmark on the counter again and the ball deflects off Christensen for a corner. Cherchesov is unhappy with Russia’s decision making in the build-up as they had a player free.
19′ Miranchuk chips the ball into the box for Dzyuba from the right. The Russia captain’s allowed to chest it down and turn but fires well wide.
17′ Chance for Russia! Golovin goes past Kjaer like he’s not there to get into the box and hits his shot straight down the middle. Schmeichel saves with his legs, and Fernandes blazes over from outside the box.
16′ Russia show good organisation to force Denmark to pass back to Schmeichel. There’s no doubt the Russians want to take the sting out of the game.
14′ Braithwaite knocks the ball down the right for Poulsen who keeps Russia penned in near their corner flag. Russia are keen to escape the Danish press so far, launching upfield whenever the home side get too close.
12′ Vestergaard gives the ball away to Ozdoev high up the pitch and clips Dzyuba as he rushes back into position. Russia gratefully accept the free-kick.
11′ Braithwaite’s ball in is nodded down by Fernandes for Safonov. Denmark rebuild and Maehle twists and turns in the box but Fernandes sticks close to him.
10′ Russia steal possession in midfield and pass all the way back to Safonov who launches the ball forward. Schmeichel claims it easily.
9′ Denmark chip the corner towards the far post. Poulsen pushes Diveev in the back and Russia get an unnecessary free-kick.
8′ Ozdoev handles the ball, giving Denmark a free-kick. Braithwaite jinks down the right to whip in a cross and Ozdoev nods it out for the first corner of the game.
7′ It’s been a considered start by the Danes. Fernandes rises high to head away a cross from the right.
5′ Maehle makes a run down the left and sends a high cross into the box that Russia clear. The Danish wing-back is found again shortly after but this time he can’t stop the ball from going out for a goal-kick.
3′ The game gets off to a feisty start as Denmark’s captain Kjaer slides in to challenge Dzyuba. Kjaer takes a bang to the chest and takes his time to haul himself up.
1′ Russia, playing in red as the administrative home team, get this game underway! Denmark are in all-white.
The players come out on the pitch in Copenhagen and stand for their respective national anthems. Denmark’s anthem is sung proudly by the partisan home crowd. No doubt they’ll try their best to inspire their team to a win.
Since the dissolution of the USSR, Russia and Denmark have met just once before in a friendly match as Russia won 2-0 here in Copenhagen back in 2012. Russia have lost their final group games in three of their last four tournament appearances, last winning against Sweden at Euro 2008. Denmark need that pattern to continue if they’re to take part in Euro 2020 any further.
There’s one change to Russia from their victory over Finland. Kudryashov comes in for Barinov while Fernandes is fit to start after being taken off on a stretcher in that game. Denmark are unchanged from their defeat to Belgium.
SUBS: Zanka, Frederik Ronnow, Andreas Skov Olsen, Jonas, Jonas Wind, Mathias Jensen, Christian Norgaard, Jens Stryger Larsen, Robert Skov, Kasper Dolberg, Andreas Cornelius, Joachim Andersen.
DENMARK (3-4-3): Kasper Schmeichel; Andreas Christensen, Simon Kjaer (c), Jannik Vestergaard; Daniel Wass, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Thomas Delaney, Joakim Maehle; Martin Braithwaite, Yussuf Poulsen, Mikkel Damsgaard.
SUBS: Vyacheslav Karavaev, Anton Zabolotny, Alexander Sobolev, Andrey Semenov, Denis Cheryshev, Rifat Zhemaletdinov, Yuri Dyupin, Dimitri Barinov, Maksim Mukhin, Anton Shunin, Roman Evgeniev, Aleksey Ionov.
RUSSIA (3-5-1-1): Matvey Safonov; Igor Diveev, Fedor Kudryashov, Georgi Dzhikiya; Mario Fernandes, Magomed Ozdoev, Roman Zobnin, Aleksandr Golovin, Daler Kuzyaev; Aleksey Miranchuk; Artem Dzyuba (c).
Denmark’s previous game saw their unfortunate Euro 2020 continue as they fell to Belgium for a second consecutive defeat. Kasper Hjulmand’s men simply must win here and hope Finland lose to Belgium to have a chance of progressing, but where exactly they’ll finish all depends on the final scores.
After beating Finland 1-0 last time out, Russia are looking to record back-to-back wins at the European Championships for the first time since Euro 2008 when they made it to the semi-finals. A win for Stanislav Cherchesov’s side here would definitely send them through to the round of 16, although a draw may be enough.
Hello! Welcome to our live text commentary of this UEFA Euro 2020 Group B match between Russia and Denmark at Parken Stadium, Copenhagen.
M. Damsgaard
Goal