EUROCOPA (ROOMS) I REP. CZECH 1 – DENMARK 2 Dynamite to dream

The spirit of that 1992 European Championship envelops the magical Denmark of Kasper Hjulmand, on the way to the semifinals at Wembley after eliminating a worthy Czech Republic. The Red Dynamite, white in Baku to avoid the confusion of colors, continues to add followers and licenses to dream of repeating the surprising title of 29 years ago in Sweden. The Czechs leave, but with their heads held high: they lose a chance and win a star, Patrik Schick. His fifth goal, which equals Cristiano Ronaldo, grants him enough ballots to finish the championship as top scorer.

Those who looked cowering at the harsh images of Christian Eriksen unconscious on the grass They certainly understood a little better that soccer is a wonderful game, but only that: a game. A concept, by the way, that the Denmark coach had already internalized for a long time, whose walks through the countryside to reassure their own and strangers have gone around the world as much as the harsh images of the doctors trying to keep the Inter footballer alive. Hjulmand, who in addition to practicing as a coach has a degree in Coaching from the University of Copenhagen, has mixed his capacity for empathy with a good chunk of football intelligence to generate the maximum of its squad in a scenario with tragic overtones that aimed to devour it, after Eriksen, losing to Finland, falling to Belgium … make this Denmark the team of all those who have not had or are left without a team during this beautiful European Championship that has appeared after that bad time that we all had in the Parken.

“You cannot play football with fear,” said Hjulmand in the preview of these quarters, inspired by one of the famous phrases of Johan Cruyff. Without fear he returned to act against the Czech Republic. Cruyffista and also a convinced Guardiolista – “I am convinced that Pep will be remembered as the Steve Jobs of football,” he also said – he has thrown the house out of the window in attacking football and has turned into a wonderful 3-4-3, with a right-handed, Maehle, full lane down the left. Luka Modric would sign the center with the outside of the Atalanta footballer in the 0-2 that joined the Dolberg network (42 '). A tremendous first part died then, to the rhythm of a constant exchange of blows since Delaney, undetectable amid the Czech distraction in a corner, headed the net with pleasure for the 0-1 (5 ').

Less fluid in circulation, lacking Danish brilliance but with a fighting style full of dignity, the Czech Republic never lost the face of the game. Soucek, Holes and of course Schick, sometimes abusing the war on their own, skirted the goal without finding it until the second half began. Kasper Schmeichel wants to win the Euro, as his father Peter did in Sweden 1992, and He insisted on blocking his goal but Schick avoided it, of course, who found the prize in minute 49 (1-2). Five goals have been added, as Cristiano. In the case of Patrik (the Portuguese scored three from 11 meters) without the need for a penalty spot. Bayer Leverkusen and their representative are rubbing their hands together.

A muscle injury took the great scorer out of the way in the final stretch of the game. Vaclik kept Czech hopes alive, the teams will be raffled off to the Sevilla exporter, who just finished contract. Denmark hastened its counterattacks with Poulsen, rougher, instead of the fine Dolberg. But it was not just a matter of aim: the uncomfortable humid heat of Baku, on the shore of the Caspian Sea, If possible, it turned the game into a round trip to which the players arrived almost out of breath for the final meters, which exaggerated the importance of getting the substitutions right.

Hjulmand managed to defend himself with the ball by taking out a midfielder like Norgaard or Wass, who has not forgotten his favorite job despite so many years playing more as a winger at Valencia. Soucek, West Ham's magnificent box to box (10 goals this season in the Premier), was looking for a tie on the ground and in the air, but the 2-2 did not come, it did not come. Denmark, that wild, talented and fearless Dynamite that coaches Kasper Hjulmand, he goes to London with every right to dream because, as Manuel Ruiz de Lopera once said: where were you in 1992?