After a crazy group stage and some amazing games we have made it to the knockout stage of the European Championships. And, the first match to kick it off is Wales vs Denmark.
Wales vs Denmark Picks
Wales finished in 2nd place of Group A and Denmark finished in 2nd place of Group B. This match will be played in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The first time of the tournament Denmark will not be playing at their national stadium.
Denmark is the favored side at -125 of this game with the better team on paper. After their game 1 loss to Finland, Denmark shifted to a back-five, with Southampton center back Jannik Vestergaard coming into the team. While Denmark couldn’t hold on against powerhouse Belgium, that tactical shift salvaged their tournament, with the Danes going on to dismantle a poor Russian team.
Both the switch to a back-five and the loss of Christian Eriksen has seen midfield duo Thomas Delaney and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg take on greater importance, and they’ve thrived. However, Denmark’s midfield pushing higher up the field with the back-five behind them has left them open to counter-attacks, and Russia were close on a number of occasions on the break, with the Danes unlucky not to concede.
Denmark won’t be so lucky leaving themselves open against a Wales team that thrives on the break, with Gareth Bale and Daniel James superb at leading breaks. Wales appeared to be too one-dimensional in attack ahead of the Euros, but they’ve shown the ability to unlock defensive lines with balls over the top, too, with both Bale and Aaron Ramsey lofting a few stunning passes in the group stage.
Wales vs Denmark sees the Welsh as a vastly experienced international side who, in two tournaments, have proven capable of getting results in a number of ways. Their adaptability is primed for tournament play, and it will play a huge part in the Round of 16. For as incredible of a story as Denmark is, it’s not difficult to imagine an emotional letdown after the highs enjoyed in Copenhagen a few nights ago.
This should be a super close clash throughout the game with no more than 4 goals scored. The pivotal players for Denmark will be the midfielders Thomas Delaney, Pierre Emile Hojbjerg and Mikkel Damsgaard.
Delaney and Hojbjerg are going to need to control the midfield of the game and Damsgaard, who is Christian Eriksen’s replacement, has looked great since being added to the starting lineup.
Prediction
- Wales: 2
- Denmark: 1
I expect Wales to win this game in extra time. Denmark will most likely get to a 1-0 lead but Wales’s counterattack abilities are great and having Kieffer Moore for an aerial target is something that Denmark will need to deal with. I expect Aaron Ramsey and Kieffer Moore to both get goals for the Welsh side.
