All you need to know ahead of England v Denmark as Three Lions eye knockouts (2024)

England will be looking to book their place in the Euro 2024 knockout phase this Thursday night when they take on Denmark in Frankfurt, live on talkSPORT.

The Three Lions got off to a winning start at the weekend, with Jude Bellingham’s powerful header securing a 1-0 win over Serbia.

Gareth Southgate’s side weren’t at their best but they showed their defensive qualities by protecting their lead as the Serbs pushed hard for an equaliser.

Another victory would secure progression into the knockout stages but Denmark will prove to be a tough opponent to beat again.

The Danes drew 1-1 against Slovenia in their opener after Christian Eriksen’s emotional strike on his return to the Euros was cancelled out by Erik Janza.

England v Denmark: talkSPORT coverage

This Euro 2024 clash will take place on Thursday, June 20.

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Kick-off at the Frankfurt Arena is scheduled for 5pm UK time.

talkSPORT will have live coverage of the game presented by Adrian Durham.

Commentary comes from Jim Proudfoot and former England captain Stuart Pearce.

talkSPORT.com will also be running a live blog of all the action.

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

The game will be broadcast live and free-to-air on BBC One.

• This will be the fourth encounter between Denmark and England at a major tournament, across the UEFA EURO (3) and FIFA World Cup (1). Denmark have so far won none of the previous three meetings (D1 L2), scoring only one goal in the process, Mikkel Damsgaard’s free-kick in the semi-final of EURO 2020.
• There have only been five goals scored in the last four meetings between Denmark (2) and England (3) in all competitions.
• England won 1-0 against Serbia in their opening match at EURO 2024. The Three Lions have never won their opening two matches at a European Championship tournament.
• Denmark have won just one of their last six group stage games at the UEFA European Championship (D1 L4), beating Russia 4-1 in EURO 2020 to ensure qualification to the round of 16.

England v Denmark: Team news and squads

England have no new injury issues heading into their second game of the tournament.

Kieran Trippier looked to have suffered a hamstring problem late in the game against Serbia but Southgate has since confirmed it was just cramp.

Luke Shaw may return to the squad despite failing to even warm up with the rest of his teammates at the weekend.

The left-back has been in training but his absence in Gelsenkirchen means he’s unlikely to be fit to start the second clash of Group C.

Phil Foden faced criticism for his performance in the opening outing and he could potentially take a place on the bench with Anthony Gordon and Cole Palmer eyeing a start.

England squad

• Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal).
• Defenders: Lewis Dunk (Brighton), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Man Utd), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Kyle Walker (Manchester City).
• Midfielders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace).
• Forwards: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Brentford), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).

As for Denmark, Eriksen was the hero in their opener and he will start again.

His Manchester United teammate Rasmus Hojlund is expected to lead the line alongside Jonas Wind again too.

Meanwhile, Premier League defenders Joachim Andersen and Jannik Vestergaard will come up against some familiar faces.

Denmark squad

• Goalkeepers: Kasper Schmeichel (Anderlecht), Frederik Ronnow (Union Berlin), Mads Hermansen (Leicester City).
• Defenders: Andreas Christensen (Barcelona), Simon Kjaer (AC Milan), Joachim Andersen (Crystal Palace), Jannik Vestergaard (Leicester City), Victor Nelsson (Galatasaray), Alexander Bah (Benfica), Joakim Maehle (Wolfsburg), Rasmus Kristensen (Roma), Victor Kristiansen (Bologna).
• Midfielders: Christian Eriksen (Manchester United), Thomas Delaney (Anderlecht), Morten Hjulmand (Sporting Lisbon), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Tottenham), Christian Norgaard (Brentford), Mathias Jensen (Brentford), Mikkel Damsgaard (Brentford).
• Forwards: Jacob Bruun Larsen (Burnley), Andreas Skov Olsen (Club Brugge), Anders Dreyer (Anderlecht), Kasper Dolberg (Anderlecht), Rasmus Hojlund (Manchester United), Jonas Wind (Wolfsburg), Yussuf Poulsen (RB Leipzig).

England v Denmark: Players to watch

Christian Eriksen

Eriksen’s story has come full circle in Germany.

The Danish midfielder scored the opening goal of the tournament for his country, superbly poking into the net after some neat build-up.

That strike came exactly 1,100 days after he suffered a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020 and marked an incredible comeback.

He is the creative hub for Denmark and made seven key passes against Slovenia as well as having five shots on goal in total.

There is no doubt that Eriksen will be a major threat to England and he will look to exploit any holes between the Three Lions’ midfield and defence.

Jude Bellingham

Bellingham was England’s hero in their Euro opener.

The 20-year-old was expected to be a key player at the tournament, but his importance became very clear to see against Serbia.

A performance crowned by a goal also included box-to-box threat and plenty of important tackles, touches and passes that led to deserved plaudits.

Playing in front of Declan Rice and Trent Alexander-Arnold, he has the freedom to roam and that is sure to cause Denmark all sorts of problems.

His late arrivals in the penalty area will be a huge asset too following his impressive header to win the game last time out.

• Denmark’s Christian Eriksen scored his first ever goal at the European Championship in their 1-1 draw with Slovenia. At 32 years and 123 days old, he became the oldest Dane to score at the UEFA EURO and oldest at a major tournament since a 33-year-old Jon Dahl Tomasson at the 2010 World Cup.
• Jude Bellingham became the first player to play at two European Championship tournaments before the age of 21 in England’s 1-0 win over Serbia. He is also the second England player to score at two major tournaments before turning 21 (also scored vs Iran at the 2022 World Cup), along with Michael Owen who scored at the 1998 World Cup and EURO 2000.

England v Denmark: What has been said?

Former England international Ashley Young has called for Southgate to make a tactical change ahead of their second Euro 2024 game.

Speaking on talkSPORT Breakfast, Young said: "We want to see Phil Foden AND [Jude] Bellingham as 10s to have someone else to play.

"I think you take away another defensive midfielder and just play one, and put the two in front of him. And then you bring in...a [Anthony] Gordon or an [Eberechi] Eze onto the left wing.

"Phil Foden, he has played there for City but I think he's more effective as a number 10 when he does create more.

“Instead of taking players on, it's getting in those pockets, getting those spaces to create for others or get goals. So I think it's going to be something that Gareth looks at.

"If we want to be more proactive and on the front foot, I think that having the two number 10s instead of the two sixes will help the team get up the pitch and get in those pockets and start creating more chances."

England vs Denmark: Betting with talkSPORT BET

Match Odds:

Denmark - 9/2

Draw - 13/5

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England - 8/13

*odds subject to change

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