Finland-Denmark is a match valid for the sixth day of Euro 2024 qualifying Group H and is played Sunday at 6 p.m.: predictions.
Nothing more than an “outing,” for Denmark, the challenge staged last Thursday against the very modest selection of San Marino, downed 4-0.
The match in Copenhagen could not but end in a goleada: after scoring three goals in the first half, Eriksen and his teammates in the second half pulled the handbrake a bit, limiting themselves to managing possession and finding the fourth goal in the midst of the second half, scored by the former Inter midfielder, now at Manchester United. Victory, in any case, very valuable for Kasper Hjulmand’s national team, called to make up ground in a group that is proving to be more treacherous than expected. Yes, because if it is true that on paper Denmark seemed to have no rivals, the absurd defeat they suffered last March in Kazakhstan, moreover after an incredible comeback from 0-2 to 3-2, has made this group suddenly balanced. The Danes have a chance to take the top spot in the all-Scandinavian confrontation with Finland, first in the standings on 12 points.
Hjulmand and his men are aware that they cannot afford any more slips: they are back in second, but Slovenia has the same points, 10.
Antman
And surprising Kazakhstan, despite its home loss to Finland, isnot out of the picture either, as it has only one point less than the Danes. A goal by Antman, a striker who plays for Denmark’s Nordsjaelland, settled a tight game in which the Kazakhs also had their opportunities to take the lead. The Markku Kanerva-coached team will now try to avenge the defeat they suffered last March at Parken (3-1) when they were knocked out by a Hojlund hat trick.
The Prediction
After the defeat in Copenhagen, Finland strung together 4 consecutive wins and did not concede any more goals. The opponents were within reach – and still not at the level of the Danes – but something must mean something. Denmark is undoubtedly superior to their cousins and yet still not entirely convincing.The Helsinki match could be a close, hard-fought one in which we expect both to score.
Finland-Denmark’s likely lineups
- FINLAND (3-4-3): Hradecky; Hoskonen, Ivanov, Jensen; Alho, Kairinen, Schuller, Niskanen; Antman, Pohjenpalo, Pukki.
- DENMARK (4-3-3): Schmeichel; Larsen, Kjaer, Andersen, Maehle; Jensen, Hojbjerg, Eriksen; Olsen, Hojlund, Poulsen.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
