LIVE – Germany-Denmark: the host country on its way to the quarter-finals?

Convincing during the group stage, Germany qualified without a hitch for the round of 16 of “its” Euro.

But the hardest part begins now for Julian Nagelsmann’s players against a solid, if not brilliant, Denmark.

This match can be followed on Saturday June 29 (9 p.m.) live on TF1 and TF1+, and with live commentary in our company.

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Euro 2024

It’s time to show some muscle. After a convincing group stage (two wins and a draw), Germany is getting down to business in the round of 16 against Denmark, this Saturday, June 29 at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund. In front of their home crowd, the teammates of Toni Kroos, who has completely revitalized a long-moribund selection, want to end their drought of recent years. They have not won a knockout match in a major international competition since… 2016, when they reached the semi-final of the Euro.

But one statistic may give them hope: if we exclude penalties, the host countries have lost only two of their last fourteen knockout matches at the Euro (7 wins, 5 draws), both in the final (Portugal against Greece in 2004 and France against… Portugal in 2016). Similarly, the only two editions with the round of 16, a format adopted in 2016, have resulted in successes for the host countries at this stage of the competition. Finally, today’s opponent team has lost its last five Euro matches against host nations.

That being said, Julian Nagelsmann’s men have probably instilled doubt in their supporters, after a generally disappointing collective performance against Switzerland (1-1).

Denmark’s fate at Eriksen’s feet?

Opposite, the Danes have still not won since their arrival across the Rhine, with three draws in the first round. But the face displayed during these three matches, and even more so against England (1-1), suggests that the Scandinavians are capable of reproducing the same kind of feat as three years ago, when they reached the last four of the competition. It must be said that the maestro Christian Eriksen seems to have found his best level. Proof of this renewal, the Manchester United player was directly involved in 55% of the 42 Danish shots during the group matches, attempted 10 and allowed 13 others. Against Germany, he will undoubtedly be one of the keys for the Danish Dynamite. We must also hope that the other Manchester star, Rasmus Højlund, will be more effective (no goals so far).

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It should be noted that the only knockout match between the two countries was won by Denmark, in the Euro 1992 final (2-0 victory). Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s teammates will therefore try to imitate their illustrious elders and achieve the feat. Coincidence of History: like 32 years ago, the goals will be guarded by a Schmeichel, the son having succeeded his father. For a similar success?