Slovenia and Denmark drew 1-1 in the opening match of group C of the 2024 German European Championships, played at the Mhp Arena in Stuttgart. Eriksen’s opener in the 17th minute was answered by Janza in the 77th minute. At 9pm, again for group C, Serbia and England will play at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen.
The match
From the first minutes the plot of the match was clear with the Scandinavians on the attack and the Slovenians on the defensive, but ready to restart and right on a restart coach Kek’s men came close to taking the lead with Sesko receiving the ball 20 meters out, turning and kick: ball just wide. In the 17th minute Denmark broke the deadlock by taking advantage of a quickly taken throw-in with the ball to Wind who backheeled it to Eriksen who kicked from close range and gave his national team the lead.
The 32-year-old Manchester United midfielder thus closes a circle. On June 12, 2021, he suffered a cardiac arrest at the European Championships, in a match against Finland in Copenhagen. Three years and four days later, he scores for the first time in his career in the continental event. In the 20th minute Slovenia tries to respond with an incursion by Sporar, the ball in the middle and a corner block from the Danish defence. Shortly after the half hour it was Eriksen who turned on his attacking play: a low cross into the middle but Slovenia somehow saved themselves in the corner. In the 43rd minute Denmark almost doubled their lead: Wind served it back for Eriksen, a first-choice conclusion with the ball rising over the crossbar.
Slovenia started in a more proactive manner in the second half with Denmark defending. The match becomes more nervous and the first yellow cards pour in: they end up in referee Hjulmand’s notebook for a foul on Sesko and Stojanovic who stops Hojbjierg irregularly. In the 12th minute Bjol risks an own goal following a free kick from Eriksen. In the 20th minute Hojlund came close to doubling his lead but Oblak blocked his close-range shot at the far post. On the reversal in front Sesko puts it in the middle for the insertion of Cerin: header goes just wide.
At half an hour Slovenia was still dangerous following a lateral free kick. The ball reaches Sporar who sends it out from two steps. In the 31st minute, a great opportunity for Sesko who recovers the ball and immediately shoots towards the post. A minute after the development of a corner, Slovenia found a deserved equalizer with a shot from Janza, deflected by Hjulmand, which mocked Schmeichel. The final quarter of an hour did not offer any other emotions with the two teams settling for one point each.
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