The match: 1-1
As against Serbia, the English quickly took the lead. Jude Bellingham had opened the scoring in the 13th minute four days earlier, this time Harry Kane found the fault in the 18th. On a doubly blocked back cross from Kyle Walker, the Bayern Munich striker deceived Kasper Schmeichel with a flat foot from close range (1-0, 18th).
This goal conceded woke up the Scandinavians, who took control of the match. By falling back, England ended up conceding the equalizer. Served by Victor Kristiansen from 30 meters, Morten Hjulmand unleashed a dry strike from outside the area which hit the post before entering Jordan Pickford’s goal (1-1, 34th). During the rest of the first half, the Danes pushed to go in front without succeeding in putting the Everton goalkeeper in danger.
Foden shoots at a post
Returning from the locker room, Kasper Hjulmand’s players continued to be enterprising, but it was Phil Foden who almost doubled the lead for the English. Found by Bukayo Saka on the edge of the area, the best player of the season in the Premier League saw his attempt at ground level fail on Schmeichel’s post (56th).
Faced with the ineffectiveness of his attack, Gareth Southgate opted for a triple change in the 69th minute: Kane, Saka and Foden gave way to Jarrod Bowen, Eberechi Eze and Olli Watkins. Barely coming into play, the Aston Villa player was perfectly found in depth, before coming up against the ex-Nice goalkeeper (71st). In the process, Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg forced Pickford to intervene with a crushed shot (73rd). The Franco-Danish, again, did not come far from offering victory (84th), his right curl failing a few centimeters from the target.
13
13 goals have already been scored from outside the area since the start of this Euro, which is already one more than during the entire group stage of the previous edition.
The player: Harry Kane unlocks his counter
Very little in sight during the English’s inaugural success against Serbia during which he only touched two balls in the first half, Harry Kane was not much more involved in his team’s play. But he did what was expected of him for this Euro: score. With his opener, the Bayern Munich striker took some pressure off himself, avoiding the criticism that a drought could have caused. On this occasion, he became the third England player to score in 4 separate major tournaments after Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney.
