Baku (AFP)

Denmark, still carried by the mystique of Christian Eriksen, qualified for the fourth Euro semi-final in its history by beating the Czech Republic (2-1) and its striker Patrik Schick, Saturday in Baku.

There is something blessed about the Kingdom of Denmark, like the idea of ​​destiny.

The Reds will go to Shakespeare's country to challenge England or Ukraine (kick off 9:00 p.m.) to continue walking in the powder footsteps of the "Danish Dynamite", European champion in 1992.

That summer, the team had arrived in sandals, after the ban of torn Yugoslavia, and without its best player, Michael Laudrup, angry with his coach.

In 2021, it remains a surprise and it is deprived of its best player, Christian Eriksen, victim of a heart attack on the field in the first game before being resuscitated on the lawn and out of trouble, a drama that has moved the whole planet.

The banner "For Christ10an" adorned one of the four stands of the Olympic stadium in Baku, where Danish supporters provided a good thousand, the atmosphere in a sparsely stocked enclosure.

- Goals from Delaney and Dolberg -

The Danish fans recalled by this message that since his convalescence, the number 10 watches over his teammates.

The Czechs were almost absent, Azerbaijan being classified at high health risk by Prague.

In the old town of Baku, Danish fans believed in their destiny.

They dream of still surprising, but this fourth entry in the last four earned them European stripes, after 1964, 1984 and 1992.

The goals of Thomas Delaney (5th) and Kasper Dolberg (42nd) approached the Vikings two games behind their glorious elders.

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They rewarded Danish domination against disappointing Czechs in the first half.

Their leader Schick woke up by signing his 5th goal (49th), to join Cristiano Ronaldo at the top of the tournament's scorers, but too late.

Deprived in particular of their captain Vladimir Darida to deconstruct the opposing game, Yaroslav Silhavy's men have this time fished behind.

Usually so rigorous, the defense of the "Reprezentace" completely forgot Thomas Delaney at the penalty spot, on a corner from Jens Stryger, and left him to adjust an unstoppable header for Tomas Vaclik.

- Schick, Monsieur 83% -

The defensive quartet were jostled by crosses from Jens Stryger, the energy of player Delaney and the climbs of the other eccentric, left, Joakim Maehle.

From an outside of the "modrician" foot, the side of Atalanta Bergamo offered his third goal of the tournament to Dolberg, at the far post.

However, in attack, the Czech collective game was always neat, with clever combinations.

But success fled the Czechs like the returnees from Schick: a completely failed (35th), a deviated (48th).

Finally, on a cross from Tomas Kalas, mounted in the collision, the Mister 83% of Czech goals at the Euro (5 out of 6) revived his team upon returning from the locker room.

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Silhavy's changes at the break felt good, with one more striker, Michael Krmencik, but his side did not come back.

Yussuf Poulsen, entered in place of Dolberg, even had several 3-1 balls, missing several blocks (62nd, 69th, 78th), with a nice relaxation of Vaclik on the last, also vigilant as a hockey goalie in front of Maehle (82nd).

The players of Kasper Hjulmand did not have to regret these missed opportunities, they avenged the Czech Republic-Denmark (3-0) in 2004, in another quarter-final of the Euro.

There were many stories in this surprise quarter-final, the only one between two former winners (1976 for Czechoslovakia).

Kasper Schmeichel may in turn be able to tell his tales of European champion to his son, as did his father Peter, goalkeeper of the national team in 1992 ...

© 2021 AFP