Denmark 1-1 England: Three Lions fail to impress again at Euro 2024 despite Harry Kane opener

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Evening Standard

·20 June 2024

Denmark 1-1 England: Three Lions fail to impress again at Euro 2024 despite Harry Kane opener

Victory would have seen England into the knockout stages as group winners

England missed out on the chance to seal top spot in Group C with a match to spare as they drew 1-1 with Denmark in Frankfurt.

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It was a familiar story from Gareth Southgate’s side, who do still sit top of the group with four points from their opening two games. They took an early lead as Harry Kane turned home from close range, but then sat back and allowed their opponents to take charge.

Denmark increasingly pinned England back, enjoying real success against a struggling midfield, and they levelled it up before the break, when Morten Hjulmand fired a brilliant effort in off the post from 25 yards out.England improved slightly in the second-half, but not enough to stop Southgate bringing off Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden, who had hit the post from the edge of the area, with 20 minutes remaining.

Ollie Watkins was one of those introduced and had a swift impact, making a sharp run in behind as his effort from Kasper Schmeichel was smothered, but the sloppiness continued from England.

They were repeatedly caught on the ball, with Marc Guehi forced into a last-ditch challenge after losing it himself, before Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg whipped an effort just wide as England again played themselves into trouble.

The Three Lions would have booked their place in the last-16 as group winners with victory, but instead have work to do against Slovenia if they are to avoid finishing second a likely clash with Germany.