The Allianz Arena in Munich will host a crucial Euro 2024 Group C encounter on Tuesday evening as Denmark and Serbia vie for a spot in the last 16.
Denmark won their three previous matches against Serbia, each with either a two or three-goal margin. Their winning streak includes a 3-0 friendly win in March 2022, where Joakim Maehle, Jesper Lindstrom, and Christian Eriksen scored for Denmark.
Under Kasper Hjulmand's guidance, Denmark currently holds second place in the group after drawing their opening two matches. Meanwhile, Dragan Stojkovic's Serbia, though unable to top the group, still has a fighting chance to advance with a victory here.
The Euro 1992 champions began their Euro 2024 campaign by drawing against Slovenia, followed by a resilient performance against England. Despite an early goal from England captain Harry Kane, Morten Hjulmand's strike earned a hard-fought deserved point for the Euro 1992 champions.
Kasper Hjulmand's side showed promise and could have secured a win, but their efforts were largely limited to long-range shots. Their two-point tally currently places them second in the group, trailing England by two points. Thanks to their disciplinary record, they are tied with Slovenia and one point ahead of Serbia. A win against Serbia would ensure Denmark's progression to the knockout stage.
However, a loss combined with a Slovenia victory over England would eliminate them. Still, Denmark's six-match unbeaten streak and their record of scoring in their last seven European Championship matches provide them with a solid foundation for this decisive game.
The Euro 2020 semifinalists will enter Tuesday's crucial Euro 2024 clash against Serbia with a relatively clean bill of health. The only recent concern - experienced midfielder Thomas Delaney - has returned to training after missing the England game due to a stomach illness. Delaney humorously admitted he spent "a lot of time in the bathroom" but is now ready to rejoin the squad.
Despite his availability, Delaney is unlikely to start, as Morten Hjulmand and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg are expected to retain their places after strong performances. Yet, Hjulmand, Joakim Maehle, Jannik Vestergaard, and Christian Norgaard are all one yellow card away from suspension, which could see them miss a potential last-16 match.
Meanwhile, playmaker Christian Eriksen could break the record for most Denmark appearances, surpassing Simon Kjaer's 132 caps.
Serbia's key strikers, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dusan Vlahovic have struggled to make an impact at Euro 2024. In their second match, Real Madrid's Luka Jovic salvaged a 1-1 draw against Slovenia with a dramatic injury-time header, keeping Serbia's hopes alive.
Although Serbia avoided defeat, they could no longer overtake England. Their path to the knockout stage requires a win over Denmark and a favorable result from Slovenia's match against England. If Serbia draws, Slovenia would need to lose by at least two goals to secure third place and a potential last-16 spot.
With these complex permutations, Serbia must focus on defeating Denmark. History, however, is not on their side: the Serbs have lost all three previous matches against Denmark, with an aggregate score of 8-1. This includes losses during the Euro 2016 qualifiers and a 3-0 friendly defeat in March 2022.
Filip Kostic remains Serbia's sole injury concern after sustaining a severe knee injury against England. Despite this setback, the Juventus winger continues to support his team from the training camp. Dragan Stojkovic has a fit squad otherwise and praised Luka Jovic for his late equalizer against Slovenia. However, Jovic is not expected to start.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, surprisingly left out of the last match, might return to the starting lineup, especially as the Mitrovic-Vlahovic partnership has yet to produce the desired results. Stojkovic has hinted at several changes, including potentially bringing back Udinese midfielder Lazar Samardzic.
Given the high stakes, this match is expected to be tightly contested. Serbia's attackers have struggled to find their form, which could prove costly against a well-drilled Denmark side. Kasper Hjulmand's men, having shown resilience against England, will likely secure a victory and advance to the knockout stages, thus ending Serbia's Euro 2024 campaign.
