Semi-finalists at the 2020 European Championships, Denmark cemented their status as one of the most dangerous sides in international football by beating 2018 FIFA World Cup and 2020/21 UEFA Nations League winners France on Friday night.
The Danes nearly had a dream start at Stade de France as Joakim Maehle came close to opening the scoring five minutes after kick-off but hit the post from close range. At the other end, meanwhile, the in-form Karim Benzema had a goal ruled out after a sharp passage of play, involving him and strike partner Kylian Mbappe, for offside.
Nonetheless, Benzema gave Les Bleus the lead minutes after the interval; the forward used his quick feet to create space inside the Denmark box before firing a low shot past Kasper Schmeichel.
However, the Scandinavian nation weren’t behind for long. Eight minutes past the hour mark, they equalized through Andreas Cornelius, who volleyed a Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg lofted pass past Hugo Lloris the first time.
The Trabzonspor striker won the game for the Euro semi-finalists two minutes from time, powering in his shot from an angle after holding off William Saliba’s challenge.
Didier Deschamps’ men are second from the bottom after one game, above Croatia on goal difference.
Meanwhile, in Brussels, former world number 1, Belgium, were thrashed 4-1 by the Netherlands. Louis van Gaal’s side ran rampant after the pause, but it was a sensational long-range strike from Steven Bergwijn in the 40th minute that gave them the lead over the Red Devils.
Memphis Depay doubled Oranje’s lead in the 51st minute, running into space and then firing a low shot past Simon Mignolet.
Ten minutes later, they were three up, courtesy of Daley Blind’s ingenuity; the left-back set up Denzel Dumfries at the far post for the tap in after Mignolet had parried Steven Berghuis’ shot in his path.
Blind assisted Depay’s second and Netherlands’ fourth in the 65th minute with a header, which the former finished from close range. Michy Batshuayi pulled a goal back for Belgium in the final minute of stoppage time, but it didn’t ease the humiliation the Red Devils suffered at the hands of their neighbours.
