Denmark-Finland is a match on the first day of Euro 2024 qualifying Group H and is played on Thursday at 20:45: predictions.
Denmark have been one of the biggest disappointments of Qatar 2022 and have completely failed to live up to the expectations that were raised around them after their semi-final at Euro 2022. Kasper Hjulmand’s men – however, reconfirmed on the bench despite the World Cup fiasco – even finished last in the Middle East group, not only behind France but also Australia and Tunisia, collecting barely a point.
The chance to redeem themselves comes in the qualifying round of the German European Championship, scheduled for summer 2024. Denmark are, on paper, the big favourites for first place: their most insidious opponents are Finland and Slovenia, and from the first match they have the chance to make things clear, as they face the Finns, the main candidates for second place. The most recent precedent between the two sides dates back to Euro 2020, when Finland came out on top in a match that will be sadly remembered for Eriksen’s illness and those moments of fear that kept the whole world in suspense. The former Inter Milan player has since returned to play, although he is currently out with injury. There is, however, a lot of Serie A in the Danish coach’s call-up: in attack, the presence of Atalanta player Hojlund stands out, while in defence Hjulmand relies on the experience of Milan player Kjaer. Other acquaintances, old and new, of Italian football are Hjulmand (Lecce), Maehle (Atalanta) Damsgaard (Brentford).
There is a lot of Serie A in Denmark
In the Finnish attack we find Pohjanpalo, a protagonist in the current Serie B with the Venezia jersey: in Denmark he will join his historical partner Pukki.
Pukki
Markku Kanerva, who missed out on World Cup qualification – his selection finished third in the group behind France and Ukraine – has won only two matches in the last year and a half, both against Montenegro in the Nations League. No wins in the last international friendlies either: double draws against North Macedonia and Norway and defeats against Sweden and Estonia, barely scoring two goals in total.
The Prediction
The Danes are eager to forget the World Cup disappointment and will want to start on the right foot. At home they have the edge, as evidenced by the fact that they have conceded only two goals in front of their home crowd in their last nine home matches. Confidence can be placed in Denmark, who against an attack as constipated as Finland’s might even manage to keep their goal unbroken.
Denmark-Finland line-up probables
- DENMARK (3-4-2-1): Schmeichel; Andersen, Kjaer, Christensen; Kristensen, Hojbjerg, Norgaard, Maehle; Lindstrom, Damsgaard; Hojlund.
- FINLAND (3-5-2): Hradecky; Jensen, Hoskonen, Ivanov; Soiri, Maenpaa, Kamara, Suhonen, Niskanen; Pukki, Pohjanpalo.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-0
