Five things we learned from Germany 2-0 Denmark | OneFootball

Germans Must Do Better

Germany are going to have to improve if they are to make the semi-finals, with Spain most likely to be next up for the hosts. The 2-0 scoreline against Denmark looks like the Germans won comfortably, but unfancied Denmark gave them a mighty scare, having a goal ruled out at 0-0 and then suffering a soft penalty that Kai Havertz put away to give Germany the lead. The Danes created enough chances of their own to suggest Julian Nagelsmann’s team is far from the finished article, and surely Spain will make them pay if the Germans continue to squander good chances of their own.

The Rain in Germany Falls Mainly in Dortmund

When it rains in Westphalia, it pours. For the second time this tournament, Dortmund’s stadium followed the lead of Old Trafford in producing a waterfall from the roof to the fans below. After 35 minutes, the torrential rain was the least of referee Michael Oliver’s worries as he took the players off the pitch, with thunder and lightning threatening their safety. After a 25 minute break the match resumed at the same intensity of the opening half-hour or so.

Please, No More For Oliver?

Official Oliver had better not plan a holiday any time soon in Denmark, where he will not find the welcome so wonderful in Copenhagen. The English ref enraged the Danes when he disallowed Joachim Andersen’s opener for the tightest of offsides, and then moments later punished the Palace defender by giving Germany a penalty for handball, again a marginal decision. Not all his fault, but no wonder the Danes felt hard done by.

No Time to Hang Up Gloves for Schmeichel?

Kasper Schmeichel may be 37, but he has not lost of the shot-stopping ability that helped Leicester win the Premier League in 2016 and the FA Cup three years ago. He made three fine saves inside the first ten minutes, but the best of the lot came shortly after the rain break, when he saved a header from Kai Havertz at point-blank range. Some 32 years ago his father Peter was the goalkeeper of the tournament as Denmark won the 1992 European Championship – beating Germany in the final.

Jamal is cooler than Kai and Leroy. When Havertz went through one on one with Schmeichel around the hour mark, he looked a certainty to score, but the Arsenal man lost his composure and clipped the ball wide of the far post. Five minutes later he set up Leroy Sane for a similar chance but the Bayern man shot wide when it looked easier to score. But soon afterwards Musiala showed them how to do it, running on to a long ball from the back, drawing Schmeichel and coolly placing the ball past the keeper into the far corner of goal. 2-0 and game over.

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