A strong argument against allowing 24 teams in the European Championship finals could be built around this game.
On a sweltering evening in Bavaria, Denmark and Serbia did little to showcase the benefits of expanding the tournament. The match was notable mainly for Christian Eriksen earning his 133rd cap, setting a record for a male Danish player. Beyond that, there wasn’t much to remember.
Serbia had considered withdrawing from the European Championship last week. Now, two games later, they have exited the tournament. This will likely be met with indifference. Denmark and Eriksen, however, have extended their stay.
Watching the Danish team—functional, physical, lacking nuance—did not inspire confidence in their prospects beyond the last 16. Denmark could argue that it was Serbia who needed to win, but neither team showed anything exciting. Denmark’s second-place finish in Group C was decided by a modern-day technicality. Even UEFA’s representative and Denmark’s head coach, Kasper Hjulmand, were unsure if it was due to a head-to-head record or a disciplinary table. Ultimately, it was their record in the qualifying rounds that decided it.
Regardless, Germany is likely pleased to face Hjulmand’s team. “I have a good feeling about that game,” said Hjulmand. “We always step up when we play the big nations.” Optimism abounds for Kasper.
Serbia’s task was to capitalize on their last-minute draw against Slovenia. Curiously, coach Dragan Stojkovic dropped key players Filip Mladenovic, Dusan Vlahovic, and Dusan Tadic. Denmark’s coach even expressed surprise at these omissions.
The game started slowly, with Eriksen forcing a save from Predrag Rajkovic with a snapshot from 19 yards. Denmark thought they had scored from a corner, but the ball had gone out of play before reaching Rasmus Højlund. Novak Djokovic, watching from the stands, saw little to cheer for.
The first half featured more action from Denmark, with Højlund testing Rajkovic and Jonas Wind missing a clear chance. Serbia, focused on containment, saw little from their main attacker, Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Pre-match, giant flags of the competing nations were waved in front of the opposing fans, setting a messy tone for the game. The atmosphere was flat, reflecting the disjointed play, particularly from Serbia. Only one minute of stoppage time was added, a merciful decision.
In the second half, Serbia introduced Tadic and Luka Jovic, which energized their fans. Danish substitute Andreas Skov Olsen nearly broke the deadlock, but his shot was deflected wide.
Serbia briefly showed intent, resulting in Joachim Andersen scoring an own goal, which was disallowed for offside after a check. More beer cups flew, and stadium announcements urged Serbian fans to stop. UEFA will likely issue a fine.
Jannik Vestergaard had a chance to put Denmark ahead but headed straight at Rajkovic. Serbia grew desperate, with hopeful crosses and a tame Mitrovic header. Mitrovic then theatrically tried to win a penalty, only to receive a yellow card.
A pitch invader briefly interrupted the game, adding to the chaotic evening. It was an unsatisfactory match, best forgotten.
