FT: DENMARK 2:0 FRANCE; WATCH OLIVIER GIROUD AND KYLIAN MBAPPE DENIED GOAL IN UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE WITHOUT KAREEM BENZEMA
France had the better of the first 20 minutes, Kylian Mbappe forcing Kasper Schmeichel to make a good save early on before Dayot Upamecano saw a header deflected wide at a corner.
Denmark’s defenders blocked a series of shots before Mbappe decided to change tack, playing a nice one-two with Ferland Mendy before teeing up Antoine Griezmann for a shot which Schmeichel spilled dangerously.
The hosts came into this game well aware that, having lost 2-1 to Croatia in Zagreb last Thursday, only a win – combined with a draw or defeat for the Croats against Austria – would propel them to the summit and through to next summer’s finals. France, meanwhile, arrived at Parken knowing that, even if they lost, only victory for Austria could condemn them to relegation.
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Denmark have missed out on a place in the final four of the Nations League despite beating France 2-0 in Copenhagen.
Eduardo Camavinga followed up with a couple of shots from just outside the box, the first off target and the second deflected wide, before Joakim Maehle came close to scoring an own goal with a skewed clearance. That was as good as it got for France in the first half, however, as Denmark burst into life.
In a sign of things to come, Christian Eriksen picked out Andreas Skov Olsen with a fantastic long ball from deep only for Alphonse Areola to keep out his team-mate at all possible starting close range. Eriksen then set up Thomas Delaney for a free header at a corner but, once again, Areola made the save.
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Areola could do little when, on the 35-minute mark, Eriksen played a raking diagonal ball to Mikkel Damsgaard out wide on the left. He crossed to Kasper Dolberg who, at full stretch, diverted the ball into the back of the net.
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