Denmark finally smiles – AS.com

One of the many phrases in football is that if you go out to draw, you usually end up losing. It was what happened to Russia. Aware that one point classified him regardless of what happened between Finland and Belgium, he blatantly lost time from the first half.

Only until Damsgaard's goal, of course, when he began to rush. Until then, Russia did not show a very convincing face. Denmark always dominated with the ball. Delaney and Hojbjerg brazenly beat Ozdoev and Zobnin. The latter two were too reliant on Miranchuk and Golovin to create any danger. It was Monaco's who had the best Russian play in the first half, reaching the area and putting Schmeichel in serious trouble.

For this match, Cherchesov repeated the same eleven that beat Finland but with the entry of Kudryashev, injured so far, by Barinov, which was not at all successful last day trying to get the ball played. Denmark, on the other hand, did not touch anything from their great game against Belgium. Poulsen, Braithwaite and Damsgaard divided up the attack front and it was the youngest who showed off his talent to overtake his country. Damsgaard being the least forward of the three, he planted himself in the front of the area and placed it perfectly in Safonov's left square. From the repetition it seems that he could have done more, but the truth is that the ball was very high.

The goal changed the score but also the spirits of Denmark, who improved their game even more until they could extend the difference from Poulsen's hand. Or rather, from Zobnin, because the Russian midfielder gave him the goal in a very unfortunate back pass.. Soon after, there was a crazy minute for Danish nerves. While the stands celebrated the no-goal (it was later annulled by the VAR) of Belgium, Turpin whistled a more than debatable penalty against.

Dzyuba scored, but it was just a mirage. Russia already turned to the attack to try the comeback received two goals in just three minutes. The disorganization of the defense, the weak point of the Cherchesov team throughout the tournament, was not able to stop an impeccable Denmark.

This result leaves Denmark ranked second, being tied with Wales in the round of 16. On the other hand, Switzerland celebrated the victory as the most from the concentration hotel, since it is mathematically ranked as one of the best third.

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Cherchesov: “The second goal came out of nowhere”

The Russian coach, Stanislav Cherchesov, regretted the defeat suffered against Denmark (1-4), which left his team out of the European Championship, and was especially sorry for the second goal, preceded by a big mistake by Zobnin. “The second goal came out of nowhere and did not give much opportunity for optimism. I started making changes, so some players felt insecure and they took advantage of it.”He said at the press conference after the meeting.

Cherchesov believes that the match did not go as planned, except in the first half. Russia had a few moments where they could score but didn't. And then Denmark did a lot of damage to the backlash. “In the first half we didn't let her fight back. But in the second, when we wanted to go forward, they started attacking fast. They are very dangerous. And we paid for it.”, he claimed.

The Russian coach did not want to speak individually and spoke of analyzing the performance collectively, although he noted that they had had “a bit of bad luck”, something that “pays” in a tournament of this level.

At the World Cup played at home three years ago, Russia reached the quarterfinals after eliminating Spain, one of their brightest performances since the demise of the former Soviet Union. “In 2018 we had more experienced players. Nowadays they are acquiring it”, Cherchesov summed up about the difference between the two teams.

The Russian coach did not shy away from criticism either: “Of course, when the team loses it is the coach's responsibility.”