Slovenia fought back to earn a battling point against Denmark as Christian Eriksen was denied an emotional winner on his return to European Championship football.
Danish talisman Eriksen suffered a heart attack in their Euro 2020 opener against Finland, but looked to have set his side on course for victory three years on after finishing off a clever move from a throw-in on the right. Eriksen, who had to be brought back to life when he last featured in the Euros, was mobbed by his team mates after giving his side a 17th-minute lead.
But despite dominating possession, Denmark struggled to create clear openings, with Jan Oblak forced into only one save from a sliding Rasmus Hojlund. It left them vulnerable to a late Slovenia leveller, which arrived mere moments after striker Benjamin Sesko had struck the woodwork from distance: a bouncing ball was lashed into Morten Hjulmand by left-back Erik Janza, deflecting past a helpless Kasper Schmeichel in goal to earn Slovenia a 1-1 draw and a potentially valuable point.
Denmark, though, will have disappointed to have ceded a position of strength with tough fixtures against England and Serbia to come in Group C at Euro 2024.
Re-live all of the action from Denmark v Slovenia:
FT: Slovenia 1-1 Denmark
A disappointing result for Denmark, you’d say, having led for so long and spent so much of the encounter in control of ball and contest. But having taken a first-half lead through Christian Eriksen – a fitting scorer on his return to Euros football 1100 days from his on-pitch collapse – the Danes largely failed to trouble Jan Oblak, one sharp save from Rasmus Hojlund about all the Slovenian shot-stopper was forced into in the second half.
By contract, Marjas Kek’s side grew into it, Erik Janza’s deflected equaliser coming mere moments after Benjamin Sesko had rattled the woodwork. They’ll be rather more pleased to have pinched a point ahead of fixtures against Serbia and England to come.
Harry Latham-Coyle16 June 2024 18:56
Slovenia 1-1 Denmark, 90 + 3 minutes
Frustrated faces in the Danish sections of MHP Arena.
Slovenia remove both strikers: Andraz Sporar and Benjamin Sesko are replaced by the rather more defensively-minded Jasmin Kurtic and David Brekalo for the little that remains.
Harry Latham-Coyle16 June 2024 18:51
Slovenia 1-1 Denmark, 90 + 3 minutes
Denmark have six men in the box but to no avail. Erik Janza, whose been excellent at both ends of the pitch today, wins a key defensive header.
Harry Latham-Coyle16 June 2024 18:50
Slovenia 1-1 Denmark, 90 + 2 minutes
Yussuf Poulsen and Kasper Dolberg both go after a raking pass that pitches and curls past Jan Oblak’s goal. Neither is particularly close to it.
Harry Latham-Coyle16 June 2024 18:48
Slovenia 1-1 Denmark, 90 minutes
Kasper Hjulmand removes midfield namesake Morten (no relation) as his final change. Thomas Delaney is on.
Four minutes for either side to find a winner.
Harry Latham-Coyle16 June 2024 18:47
Slovenia 1-1 Denmark, 87 minutes
Denmark need to find a way to lift the energy again. Despite having nearly 70% of the ball, they’ve created just three shots on goal, the latest of which gently trims the grass on the way through to Jan Oblak.
Harry Latham-Coyle16 June 2024 18:45
Slovenia 1-1 Denmark, 84 minutes
A triple substitution for Denmark. Both strikers are removed – Yussuf Poulsen and Kasper Dolberg on for Rasmus Hojlund and Jonas Wind – while the fresh legs of Christian Norgaard are required in midfield. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is the other man replaced.
Harry Latham-Coyle16 June 2024 18:42
Slovenia 1-1 Denmark, 81 minutes
Suddenly, Slovenia look like favourites. They are some leggy Danes out there, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg laboured in midfield and Jannik Vestergaard ghosted past by Andraz Sporar. His effort clips the fingers of Kasper Schmiechel and buries itself in the side netting. Denmark look nervy.
Harry Latham-Coyle16 June 2024 18:39
GOAL! SLOVENIA 1-1 Denmark (Erik Janza, 78 minutes)
But that one finds the back of the net!
Slovenia are level! The corner is half cleared to Erik Janza, arriving from the left and leathering his laces through the bouncing ball. It ruffles the rump of Morten Hjulmand, diverting it beyond a wrong-footed Kasper Schmiechel to square affairs in Stuttgart!
Harry Latham-Coyle16 June 2024 18:34