Saturday was one of the most emotional days in football’s recent history but Denmark’s players will now look to focus on on-field matters as they continue their Euro 2020 campaign against Belgium.
After a period of real uncertainty following his collapse on the field against Finland, Christian Eriksen is now, thankfully, seemingly on the mend and he will be urging his teammates to get themselves on the board in Group B.
Denmark Desperate to Get Going
For obvious reasons, the result of Saturday’s 1-0 defeat against Finland somewhat went under the radar, with Joel Pohjanpalo scoring the only goal to grab his nation’s first-ever tournament win in Copenhagen.
Debate will continue as to why there wasn’t a more creative solution offered to the Danish players as far as continuing the game goes in the aftermath of Eriksen’s collapse but the hope is that Kasper Hjulmand’s players will have been given the right support to help get them ready for Thursday.
Before the incident that marked the game, the Danes had been the better of the two sides and are a tempting 16/5 to get off the mark in Group B with a win at Parken.
With Russia still to visit them in the pool stages, a draw here and closing win may be enough to make it through to the last-16.
Brilliant Belgium Could Be the Real Deal
That said, they face the number one ranked team in the world and a side who are priced at 11/2 to go all the way after finishing third at the 2018 World Cup.
This could be the last chance for some of De Rode Duivels’ ‘Golden Generation’ but they were blistering on Saturday as they savaged a fairly lacklustre Russian side 3-0.
Roberto Martinez’s men were a class above across the pitch and are still waiting to get Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne back to full fitness. Another win on Thursday is just 11/10, with the draw 11/5.
Denmark will be a step above Russia, with De rød-hvide possessing plenty of talent.
However, Belgium were so superior on Saturday that it is tough to look past them, especially when you add in that they won the duo’s two Nations League games in 2020 by an aggregate score of 6-2.
Look For Lukaku
Arguably the form striker in the world, Romelu Lukaku has taken the confidence that saw him fire 24 goals in Inter Milan’s recent Scudetto win into these championships and was simply too good for the Russian defence on Saturday.
The 28-year-old netted two of his side’s goals in Saint Petersburg and is the massive 2/1 favourite to win the Golden Boot.
Sit back and enjoy all 6⃣0⃣ Devil goals by @RomeluLukaku9!
#DEVILTIME #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/hmYHgwvaGi
— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) June 8, 2021
Lukaku paid tribute to his Inter team-mate Eriksen after opening the scoring against Russia and is 5/4 in the Anytime Goalscorer Market.
On the evidence of Saturday, it may even be worth going a touch harder and backing him for another brace, with him 29/4 to score two or more at Parken.
*All odds correct at time of writing.