Play with the heart, play for Eriksen, defeat Russia and keep your fingers crossed.
This is more or less the program of Denmark, Monday, June 21, for its last group B match of Euro-2021.
In the other match, which will take place simultaneously, Finland will attempt a feat against Belgium, already assured of their qualification in the round of 16.
Nine days after the terrible cardiac arrest of their midfielder Christian Eriksen, the Danes (0 pt) still have a small chance to go to the eighth.
The victory against the Russians (3 pts) is imperative and their final position (second or candidates for the repechage of the best third) would then depend on the result of Finland.
Apothecary accounts could be started.
Russians in an armchair
Victorious over Finland (1-0) in Saint Petersburg, Sbornaïa approached the match with the best accounting situation.
A victory guarantees him a place in the knockout phase.
With a draw, the ticket will almost be in the pocket, too.
Since the shock of the cardiac arrest in the middle of Christian Eriksen's match, against Finland (1-0 defeat) on June 12, the Scandinavian selection has shown unfailing solidarity.
She relies on this state of mind to compensate for the absence of her conductor, who was to supply the strikers Yussuf Poulsen and Braithwaite with balloons.
🔜 Danmark-Rusland 👀 # ForDanmark # EURO2020 #DEN #DENRUS pic.twitter.com/II2FZw7nW6
- DBU - En Del Af Noget Større (@DBUfodbold) June 20, 2021
"It's incredible not to have any points after the quality shown in our first two matches. It's up to us to change things and I have a good feeling," assured coach Kasper Hjulmand.
Braithwaite, the key to the match?
Against Belgium (2-1 defeat) Thursday, Yussuf Poulsen and Braithwaite have stepped up their efforts.
The first opened the scoring while the second found the crossbar for the equalizer ball at 2-2.
“I had one of the scariest times of my life (with Eriksen's cardiac arrest),” Braithwaite said.
The former Toulousain, now at FC Barcelona, is the Dane who shot the most against the Belgians (8 times).
He is also the one who has evolved the highest in the field, according to UEFA data.
His personal journey sticks to the image of a selection that never gives up.
He himself spent two years in a wheelchair, aged between 5 and 7, due to Legg-Calve-Perthes disease (necrosis of the femur).
Red Lanterns before Matchday 3, the twice-beaten Danes must win and hope for a series of results to their advantage: they will have to watch carefully the score of the other match and hope for a defeat of Finland by more than two gap goals.
Finland's "most important game in history"
In the other Group B game, the calculations are much simpler.
Belgium is already qualified after its two victories while Finland has its destiny in hand in this first final phase of Euro in its history.
She can also finish first in the group or be eliminated, depending on her result and that of the Denmark-Russia match.
"This is the most important game in our history. A big dream can come true, namely qualification. It's in our hands," warned Finnish coach Markkus Kanerva.
"Our dream was to participate in this Euro. But it is not because this dream is realized that we do not have others. We know that it is very important for the whole country, it is a a matter of national pride, "said Finland defender Jene Uronen.
"We've been together for a month, we miss our families, but we don't want to go home yet."
With AFP
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