LAST 16
Denmark 1-2 Wales
Eriksen 9’
Ramsey 36
James 66
Kieran O’Brien
Johan Cruijff ArenA, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Saturday 27th June
“I don’t see any reason why we can’t reach the semi-finals again”.
A rare moment of unbridled confidence from Wales’ boss Ryan Giggs, shouted at the top of his lungs over the din of jubilant Welsh supporters at the Johan Cruijff ArenA. Giggs has previously made a point of keeping his squad grounded after positive results, with the emphasis following the win over Switzerland and draw with Italy being on how his side can improve in several areas. Wales face the victor of tomorrow’s clash between Holland and Germany in the next round, which on the face of it makes his post-match assuredness even more out of step with his usual vigilance. Yet, there is something special about this Welsh side. Unbeaten so far at Euro 2020, Wales have overcome adversity in every one of their four games so far and, on a balmy evening in Amsterdam, produced one of their finest ever performances to triumph over Denmark.
The Danes were given the edge by the bookies going into this last 16 clash and for good reason; Age Hareide’s side toppled pre-tournament favourites Belgium in the group stages and are spearheaded by the talismanic Christian Eriksen. Wales, meanwhile, had shown glimpses of attacking verve on their way to securing a knockout berth, but each of their performances had been marred by a defensive frailty that Denmark would surely look to exploit. Sure enough, after just nine minutes, Denmark were ahead. A long, arcing pass from Andreas Christensen was brought down expertly by Yussuf Poulsen. The Red Bull Leipzig man played the ball inside to Eriksen and ran inside Connor Roberts to receive a return pass. Eriksen had other ideas, feigning a pass to Poulsen before cutting inside Joe Morrell and guiding a wonderful curling effort into the far corner of Wayne Hennessey’s goal. A genuine moment of world class from the Internazionale playmaker, who has carried his fine Serie A form into this tournament.
A reported 50,000 Welsh supporters had travelled to Amsterdam, surely relieved that a second place finish in the group had afforded their side a clash which did not require the excessive planning needed for convoluted routes from Wales to Baku in the group stages. Those lucky enough to secure match tickets attempted to lift their side with a rousing rendition of ‘Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau’ and their team duly responded. Neco Williams, handed his first start and appearing as Wales’ youngest ever player at a major tournament, looked every bit an international player as he demonstrated why his emergence has generated so much excitement among Liverpool fans. Deployed at left back rather than at his usual right-back position, the youngster provided his country with a new attacking dimension. Unafraid to foray into the opposition half at any opportunity, Williams played a quick one two with Gareth Bale to free himself on the left flank. His first time cross found Kieffer Moore at the near post, whose glancing header drifted narrowly wide of the far post.
With Ethan Ampadu and Morrell shielding centre backs Joe Rodon and Ben Davies, both Williams and Roberts were given license to roam forward. Playing as inverted fullbacks, the two were finding space with ease in the Danish half, and Wales were attacking with more fluidity than at any other point during Giggs’ tenure. On 28 minutes, Wales came closer again to restoring parity. Another marauding run from Williams drew a foul from Thomas Delaney around 30 yards out; the resulting free kick from Bale drew a remarkable save from Kasper Schmeichel. The stop was a carbon copy of the save Schmeichel made from Bale in in the 2018 Nations League in the most recent meeting between the two sides.
On that occasion, Denmark deservedly overcame Wales, but Giggs’ men were demonstrating that they have grown in stature and confidence in the two years that have passed since that defeat. On 36 minutes, Welsh attacking endeavour was rewarded with a fine equaliser. The outstanding Williams was the instigator, winning the ball from Martin Braithwaite on halfway and switching the ball to Daniel James. The Manchester United winger found Aaron Ramsey on the edge of Denmark’s penalty area, who in turn played a short pass into the feet of Moore. The Wigan Athletic target man was falling backwards as he received the ball but was able to flick on to the travelling Ramsey, who duly fired home from twelve yards out. The goal was nothing less than Wales deserved and save for a speculative long-range effort from Kasper Dolberg, went into the break as the team posing all the attacking threat since Eriksen’s opener.
Evidently concerned by Wales’ first half dominance, Hareide introduced Pierre Emile Hojberg after half time in an attempt to inject some urgency into the Danish attack. The Southampton midfielder made an immediate impact, but not in the way he would have wanted. Braithwaite’s hopeful chip forward found the head of Dolberg, whose flick on fell to the feet of Hojberg eight yards out. With the goal at his mercy, the substitute opted for power over placement and sent the ball into orbit.
The giant screen at the Johan Cruijff ArenA captured a memorable shot of the entire Danish bench in disbelief at Hojberg’s miss, and this disbelief soon turned into despair as Wales took the lead. Ampadu, fully recovered from his calamitous fall on the Baku Olympic Stadium athletics track, had already been performing impressively when he broke from defence on the 66-minute mark. With counter-attacking options either side in the shape of Bale and James, Ampadu instead decided to take the ball on himself, pushing ahead into space which was newly available due to Hareide’s attack-minded tactical switch. This decision created a 4-on-3 situation for Wales, which left Christensen in two minds whether to mark Moore or James. The Chelsea man opted to prioritise Moore at the precise moment his club mate Ampadu slid an incisive through ball to James. With no defenders left to beat, James advanced on goal and deftly scooped the ball over the despairing Kasper Schmeichel. The goal demonstrated everything good about this young Wales side; the speed and decisiveness on display more than reminiscent of the Ferguson-era counter attacking Manchester United sides Giggs himself starred for.
Eriksen cut an increasingly desolate and frustrated figure in the Danish midfield, struggling to find the time and space that had allowed him to open the scoring. The introduction of Andreas Cornelius for defender Jens Larsen was surely intended to preoccupy the Welsh defence with another attacker, but only succeeded in removing any remaining cohesion and structure from the Danish attack. One attacking sequence, in which an Eriksen through ball intended for Braithwaite inadvertently struck Cornelius in the head from point blank range, summed up Denmark’s attacking nightmare in the second half. The former Cardiff City man collapsed to the turf in agony as Eriksen turned away in disgust at his side’s toothless attacking approach.
Yet for all Eriksen and his side’s frustration at their inability to put attacking sequences together, the truth is that Wales simply did not allow Denmark to play. Ampadu and Morrell were utterly dominant in midfield, with the tireless Ramsey seemingly at hand every single time Wales won the ball to link defence with attack. Wales fans will be extremely excited at the arrival of Neco Williams on the international stage, but it was the success of Giggs’ new tactical approach, which allowed Williams to thrive, that could be of most importance at this tournament. Wales were able to see out the final ten minutes in Amsterdam with relative ease, not only by containing Denmark’s considerable attacking threat but by continuing to attack themselves. Williams himself very nearly added a third in second half stoppage time, latching onto a Davies clearance but fluffing his lines with only Schmeichel to beat.
Another goal would have been just reward for Wales’ dominance, but as the euphoric scenes at the final whistle demonstrated, the only thing that mattered to Welsh supporters today was a win. For a country with a population of just over 3 million people, reaching a second successive European Championship quarter final is an incredible achievement. Most in Wales will be all too aware that their tournament run may well come to an end against Holland or Germany, but after today’s display many will share Giggs’ optimism that a semi final berth is not beyond Wales. A Welsh performance for the ages.
Man of the Match: Neco Williams