Euro 2020 Round-Up: Belgium withstand Danish storm in Copenhagen as the Netherlands and Ukraine record wins
Belgium withstood a fierce Danish performance at Euro 2020 on Thursday to run out eventual 2-1 winners.
Roberto Martinez’s side got off to the worst possible start in Copenhagen thanks to a 2nd minute strike from Yousef Poulsen.
And it nearly got worse as the Belgians were markedly second-best for most of the first-half – but the Danes could not make their dominance count in terms of more goals.
That inability to convert chances proved to be their downfall as Thorgan Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne scored twice to give Belgium a 2-1 win.
Denmark must now hope that results go their way in the final group game when they play Russia, and they also need Belgium to see off Finland in the other game.
Belgium showing their class in the second-half. Intricate play by the Hazard brothers and a rasping finish by Kevin de Bruyne #DEN 1-2 #BEL#DENBEL#Euro2020#RTESoccer
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 17, 2021
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Frank do Boer’s Netherlands also continued their winning start to Euro 2020 seeing off Austria by two goals to nil in Amsterdam.
Memphis Depay’s spot-kick after 11 minutes was rounded off Denzel Dumfries’ 67th goal as a poor Austrian side were easily seen off by the Dutch.
#Euro2020 Report: #NED 2 - 0 #AUThttps://t.co/I8qqKf78Pfpic.twitter.com/UfavcZfejY
— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) June 18, 2021
And Ukraine bounced back from their 3-2 defeat against Netherlands last time out with a 2-1 win over North Macedonia in Bucharest.
The Ukrainians scored twice in a swashbuckling five-minute spell in the first-half to all but end the game as a contest.
Andriy Yarmolenko and Roman Yaremchuk both netted in the 29th and 34th minute respectively.
But they did have a fright of sorts as Ezgjan Alioski halved the deficit in the 57th minute, although it wasn’t enough to reel in Andriy Schevchenko’s side.
Goalscorer Yarmolenko turns provider as Yaremchuk claims his second goal of the tournament to double Ukraine’s lead #UKRMKD#Euro2020#RTESoccer#UKR 1-0 #MKD
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 17, 2021
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