England missed a prime opportunity to secure their spot in the Euro 2024 knockout stages as Group C winners, settling for a disappointing draw against Denmark in Frankfurt.
Despite an early lead, Gareth Southgate’s team delivered a lackluster performance, leaving them fortunate to escape with a point.
Harry Kane opened the scoring for England in the 18th minute, marking his fourth successive major tournament goal. However, instead of building on their advantage, England reverted to a defensive posture, allowing Denmark to dominate the proceedings. This cautious approach has been a recurring theme under Southgate’s management.
Denmark capitalized on England’s retreat, with Morten Hjulmand equalizing with a powerful 25-yard strike in the 34th minute. England’s response was limited, though Phil Foden did hit the post after the break. Despite remaining at the top of Group C, England’s performance against Denmark raised serious questions about their credentials as potential Euro 2024 favorites.
The match highlighted significant issues within the England squad, particularly in midfield, where they were consistently outmaneuvered by Denmark. Veteran midfielder Christian Eriksen orchestrated the game for Denmark, exposing the weaknesses in the central partnership of Declan Rice and Trent Alexander-Arnold. This combination, which appeared out of sync, is unlikely to be seen again in future matches.
Even Jude Bellingham, who had been instrumental in England’s previous victory over Serbia, struggled to make an impact. The overall disorganization and frequent errors on the pitch drew the ire of England fans, who voiced their displeasure with loud jeering and a hostile send-off at the final whistle.
Southgate’s frustration was evident as he made four substitutions with more than 20 minutes remaining, an uncharacteristic move for the usually measured manager. The decision to substitute Harry Kane in the 69th minute, with England still searching for a winner, was particularly surprising. Phil Foden, who had been England’s most threatening player, was also replaced, further perplexing fans and analysts alike.
England’s complaints about the playing surface, which deteriorated early in the match, offered little solace for their subpar performance. The team’s tendency to become subdued rather than inspired after scoring resurfaced, a flaw that nearly cost them against Serbia and proved costly against Denmark.
The draw leaves England needing significant improvements in their upcoming match against Slovenia to secure their place in the knockout stages. While they remain in contention, their display against Denmark was far from the standard required to make a serious impact in Euro 2024.
As the tournament progresses, England will need to address their tactical inconsistencies and rediscover the form that made them contenders. The path to success in Germany is still open, but only if Southgate and his team can learn from their mistakes and deliver performances worthy of their ambitions.