Denmark secured their place in the Euro 2024 knockout stages after a goalless draw with Serbia on Tuesday, sealing second spot in Group C ahead of Slovenia.
The 0-0 stalemate mirrored the result of England and Slovenia’s concurrent match, with England emerging as group winners. Both Denmark and Slovenia ended with the same points and goal tally, but Denmark advanced to the last 16 to face hosts Germany in Dortmund, thanks to their superior ranking.
England will meet a third-placed team in Gelsenkirchen, while Slovenia will face a group winner. Serbia, finishing last in the group, was eliminated.
Luka Jovic’s stoppage-time equaliser against Slovenia had kept Serbian hopes alive of reaching the last 16 in their first Euros as an independent nation. Serbia coach Dragan Stojkovic had backed his team to “change history” against the 1992 Euros champions, Denmark.
Despite Serbia needing a win to progress, Denmark was the more aggressive side early on. Christian Eriksen’s free-kick found Jonas Wind alone in the box, but the forward shot directly at goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic.
Eriksen then forced a fingertip save from Rajkovic and pinned Serbia back with a series of corners. A corner kick led to a disallowed goal when Eriksen’s cross drifted out of play before Wind’s finish.
Jovic, brought on at halftime, immediately pressured the Danish defense, causing Joachim Andersen to score an own goal, but it was ruled offside. VAR confirmed Jovic was inches offside.
Eriksen remained Denmark’s key playmaker, delivering a perfect cross for Jannik Vestergaard after 65 minutes, but the defender’s header was saved by Rajkovic.
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