Euro 2020: I would be lying if I said that we are quite satisfied with the semi-final, says Denmark captain Simon Kjaer
Denmark lost their first two matches at Euro 2020, first against Finland — when Eriksen fell on the field — and then Belgium. The Danes were on the verge of elimination before beating Russia, Wales and the Czech Republic in a row.
Denmark beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in Baku to book their place in the semifinal of Euro 2020.
The place in the semifinals is the farthest Denmark has progressed at a major tournament since winning the European title in 1992. The team will face either England or Ukraine on Wednesday at Wembley Stadium.
Simon Kjaer, Denmark defender and captain said that his team is not satisfied by just reaching the semifinals.
“We had a goal heading into this tournament, and that was that we wanted to go back to Wembley. I’d be lying if I said that we’re just okay with the semi-finals. We need to recover, and then we have another match in four days,” said Simon Kjaer.
Jens Stryger sent an outswinging corner in the fifth minute to Thomas Delaney, standing in space by the penalty spot. Delaney’s bouncing header went in past the outstretched hand of goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik.
Denmark doubled the lead just before halftime. Joakim Maehle hit a cross from the left using the outside of his right foot. The ball eluded Martin Braithwaite’s attempt at a header but Kasper Dolberg got past his marker and beat Vaclík in the 42nd.
Czech Republic forward Patrik Schick scored his fifth goal at the beginning of the second half, putting him even with Cristiano Ronaldo as the tournament’s leading scorers.
Kjaer about defending under pressure in the second half said: “Luckily it’s a part of the game that I enjoy; standing there heading balls away. We had to work as hard as nails and we could have played a better match. Maybe we left them too much initiative, but we were confident standing back.
“The Czechs pushed hard to level the score in a physical game which finished with Tomas Soucek and Jan Boril both with their heads wrapped in bandages after collisions with Danish players.
