Secretive British Individuals Accumulate Whistles Aimed at Denmark
The English football squad secures another point in the EM, albeit with a lethargic performance against the Danes, echoing their initial slump against the Serbians. Gareth Southgate's team once again showed signs of complacency, easing up early on.
Harry Kane (18.) struck first, lifting the spirits of Prince William a bit, as the FC Bayern star set England on course for the Round of 16 in the European Championship rematch against Denmark. The Three Lions ended the first half with a well-deserved 1:1 draw, maintaining their lead in Group C with four points.
Despite a promising start, England failed to secure a dream beginning with two wins, a feat never achieved at an EM. Kane's goal was met with criticisms for his minimal ball contact in the opening game.
The Danes, who started with two strong performances, need points against underdog Serbia to advance to the knockout stage. On Tuesday, England should cruise against Slovenia.
Amicable atmosphere despite heated play
The Frankfurt EM Arena became a royal gathering, with both Prince William, also the FA president, and Danish King Frederik X. rooting for their teams on site. The authorities had flagged the game as a potentially volatile event, but so far, peace reigned. Frankfurt, nicknamed "Zombieland" in British tabloids, had been under British control since early morning. Over 50,000 Brits celebrated from the break of dawn at the Römer, while 25,000 Danes paraded through the city as a fan carnival from the Opernplatz.
The match commenced before 47,000 spectators under a closed roof, with the English team displaying a static play. A momentary lapse from Victor Kristiansen allowed Kyle Walker to snatch the ball, resulting in Kane's connected left-footed shot from five meters. He dedicated the goal to his wife Katie and his four children, showering them with kisses.
In the subsequent play, England fell back once more, employing the frequently criticized defensive strategy of Gareth Southgate. Denmark kept the ball moving but struggled to create meaningful opportunities. The closer they came to the goal, the fewer ideas they had, resorting mostly to long-range shots. Jonas Wind's curled shot from Wolfsburg found the net, while Hjulmand's shot from 28 meters bounced off the inside post.
England remains erratic until the final whistle
The English team stepped up their offensive play after substitutions. Saka targeted the outside netting with aheader over Kasper Schmeichel (53%), followed by Foden hitting the post from a distance (56%). Denmark rarely threatened with dangerous attacks, Damsgaard testing Jordan Pickford from a distance (68%).
Southgate made a triple substitution, replacing Kane with Ollie Watkins, who failed to beat Schmeichel (71). On the opposing side, both Andreas Christensen (84) and Pierre-Emile Höjberg (85) came close but couldn't clinch the lead for Denmark. The Danish crowd grew increasingly frustrated, with the English supporters far from contented with the performance.
