For the first time since the World Cup in Qatar, Gareth Southgate has named an unchanged line-up. The same 11 players who started against Serbia will take to the pitch against Denmark.
Kasper Hjulmand: “This is a huge challenge, it’s one of the biggest challenges you can get in national team football,” said Denmark’s coach in an interview with ITV yesterday. “I think England is a great side. I have great respect for the quality of the players, for Gareth, for the way he’s working.”
On how he expects the game to play out: “I think England has fantastic quality if they can dictate the game as much as possible and be on the ball as much as possible and attack. We have to be courageous and do the same.
“It will be a huge fight over the ball and we know we will have to suffer at some points during the game. We have to dig in, dig deep but we want to be on the front foot. We know this will be difficult, we are the underdogs but we’ll try.”
Speaking of Serbia: Their football association has called for sanctions to be imposed on Croatia and Albania after fans of both countries were heard chanting anti-Serbia slogans during their match yesterday.
Group C: On as a second half substitute, Luka Jovic has equalised for Serbia with practically the final touch of the game! Deep in added time, he flicks home a header from a corner to snatch a precious point for his team.
Kasper Schmeichel: “I think any time you play England you look around and they are full of world class talent,” the Danish goalkeeper said in an interview with ITV. “This version of England is no different. Any time you play against England if you want to beat them you have to be absolutely at the top of your game but we’re well prepared, we’ve trained really well. We’ve had a good couple of days now and we’re ready.”
On Jude Bellingham: “He’s probably the definition of a world class player, when you look at the steps he’s been taking in his career. He’s certainly one to watch out for. He’s a top player and one that we’re going to have to keep an eye on.”
England: The players were bemused by the media reaction to their win over Serbia but a jovial Kyle Walker told reporters he is ignoring social media and the press before today’s game. Words: David Hytner in Frankfurt.
Slovenia v Serbia: In today’s other Group C game, Slovenia are leading Serbia courtesy of a Zan Karnicnik goal scored in the 69th minute. Aleksandar Mitrovic and chums only have about five minutes left to bag themselves an equaliser. Daniel Harris has the latest from Munich …
Denmark: For all the symbolic brilliance of Christian Eriksen, Denmark’s opening draw with Slovenia has put the Euro 2020 semi-finalists and their manager Kasper Hjulmand under pressure, writes Jonathan Wilson in Hamburg.
Today’s match officials
Referee: Artur Soares Dias
Assistant referees: Paulo Soares and Pedro Ribeiro
Fourth official: Mykola Balakin
Video assistant referee: Tiago Martins
England: Harry Kane can drop deep or play as a classic No 9 and will mix it up depending on the opponent or the state of the game, writes Jacob Steinberg in Frankfurt.
Early team news
Danish coach Kasper Hjulmand has a full complement of players to choose from and may select the same team that started against Slovenia. Assuming Christian Eriksen features today, the midfielder will equal Simon Kjaer’s record number of 132 appearances for Denmark, but if the Milan defender gets a run-out off the bench, he will once again nose ahead on to 133.
Gareth Southgate has no injury concerns but will almost certainly be aware of the fabled “clamour” that greeted England’s win against Serbia. On the back of one workmanlike victory, assorted armchair managers have called for Phil Foden to be dropped and Trent Alexander-Arnold to be replaced in midfield, so we’ll find out in due course if England’s head coach shares their view. For what it’s wortth, I fully expect both players to start.
To the Frankfurt Arena, where a win for England will guarantee their progress to the knockout stages with a group game to spare. Following their win over Serbia in Stuttgart, a victory that wasn’t hugely convincing but got those all important three points on the board, they face a Denmark team who weren’t massively impressive when drawing their opener against Slovenia. We’ll find out which, if either team will find it within themselves to up their game from 5pm (BST) but in the meantime we’ll have plenty of team news and build-up.