"BUBBLE AND STRIFE" Daily Mirror

Denmark Team

England Team

    Match Report by Mike Payne

Whenever I write these reports for this brilliant website, I try so hard to concentrate on the positives and forget about this, that, and in some cases, the other, that goes on around the team.  Gareth Southgate had a tough time in the short build up to the two matches that had to be played before our season starts, and two clean sheets, a win and a draw seems a fair return given all that has gone on.  However, in describing the game itself, I cannot find too many positives to record.

In the first ten minutes there was very little happening, with neither side showing much in the way of attacking intent.  Southgate gave two players, Conor Coady and Kalvin Phillips, their International debuts, and one more debutant came on as a substitute, more of that later.  Coady, especially, slotted in well and carried his good form shown with Wolves all last season, straight into the higher grade of football with ease.

Kieran Trippier worked a training ground move from an England corner in the 11th minute but Raheem Sterling scuffed his shot.  Both sides were poor on quality, although one better move down the right for England ended with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross being well cut out by Leicester’s Kasper Schmeichel in the home goal.  Then we had the first dangerous move forward by Denmark on 18 minutes as Kasper Dolberg made a probing run before ending with a good shot just over Jordan Pickford’s crossbar.  That was the best chance of the match so far.  Sadly, the soporific mood of the play continued for much of the first-half.  Eric Dier’s overhit free-kick was typical of the lacklustre England attempts, and there was little spark coming from the midfield.  Phillips didn’t do anything wrong, he just didn’t do very much at all, like several of his teammates.

Just after the half-hour Denmark came close to an opening goal.  Martin Braithwaite chested the ball down well and fired in a 25 yard shot that flew just wide of Pickford’s left-hand post.  England responded with Declan Rice putting a good pass to Alexander-Arnold, but the chance was missed without testing Schmeichel.  Sterling again looked England’s most likely attacker, but unfortunately he was rarely given a decent pass.  England were then grateful to Pickford when Denmark had their best chance so far.  A terrific turn by Christian Eriksen took his old teammate Dier out of the game, and his pass found Dolberg again, but Pickford made an excellent save from the striker’s fierce shot.

This led to a better spell for the Danes, forcing several corners, but Coady showed his calmness under pressure as he marshalled the defence well.  A late free-kick by Alexander-Arnold came to nothing and the very disappointing half predictably ended goalless.  If we thought it was bad against Iceland then this match was on a par, at the least.

The second-half started with a shot by Eriksen being blocked by Dier but there was still no real urgency in the game.  Braithwaite picked up a yellow card for a foul on Harry Kane and then, in the 59th minute, Pickford easily gathered a low shot by Thomas Delaney.  It was time for a change or two, and on the hour Mason Mount came on for the ineffective and disappointing Jadon Sancho.  This led to a better spell by England.

First, a good move involving Joe Gomez, saw Alexander-Arnold cross dangerously from the right, with ball going across goal to Trippier out on the left.  He centred back in to the middle where Kane headed just over.  The ball was just a fraction too high but at least it was an effort on goal.  With 20 minutes left Sterling’s shot was paddled around the post by Schmeichel, but the corner came to nothing.  Mount’s introduction had livened England up a little and on 75 minutes, long overdue in many people’s eyes, Jack Grealish was finally given a chance to make an impact, coming on for Phillips.  Denmark also made changes before Sterling, Mount and Rice combined to set up Grealish.  The Aston Villa star was crowded out as he burst into the box but at least he was being very positive, something that had been lacking all through the game.

In the 82nd minute Denmark so nearly broke the deadlock, and really should have done.  A high ball into the box was headed down by Yussuf Poulsen, right into the path of the inrushing Eriksen.  A goal seemed certain, but the former Tottenham man sent his shot over the bar, with a lunge by Gomez probably affecting his attempt.

Now listen, us reporters are finding writing reports on England hard enough with all these double-barrelled names joining the team, so the last thing we wanted was another one coming on for a debut as a substitute.  Ainsley Maitland-Niles came on, and to be fair he replaced Alexander-Arnold, which at least helped us a little bit.

Ainsley was soon in the action and almost set up Kane for a goal, although substitute Simon Kjaer responded with a clear header from Robert Skov’s free-kick.  Thankfully the Dane headed over the bar.  England’s late goal in Iceland won that game, so surely they couldn’t do it again with another last second goal, well yes, they nearly did just that.  A mistake by Schmeichel allowed Kane to touch the ball past him to give himself a chance from a tight angle.  Kane hit the ball well, and on target, but at the last moment Mathias Jorgensen came from nowhere to clear the ball off the line.

To be honest, England didn’t deserve victory, but then, nor did Denmark.  It was that sort of game.  Onwards to the next group match.
   

Source Notes