BELGIUM, OTHERS INTO EURO LAST 16

Belgium are the number one ranked teamin the world and it’s not a surprise that they are one of the first teams to book their place in the first knockout stage at the Euro 2020 tournament this summer. The Red Devils of Belgium came from a goal down to beat hosts Denmark 2-1 in their Group B encounter in Copenhagen thereby becoming the second team into the round of 16 after Italy.

The Belgians had to work for the slender victory over the Danes who impressed in the first half especially. RB Leipzig forward YussufPoulsengave Denmark the lead inside two minutes for the third fastest goal in the history of the competition. The Danes could have scored more than one goal in the first half which they dominated in an impressive manner. In the end, their inability to score a second goal in the first 45 minutes came back to haunt them in the second half.

Belgium big guns Kevin De Bruyne, Axel Witsel, and Eden Hazard started the game on the bench due to fitness issues and their introduction in the second half changed the game for the better for the Red Devils.  Manchester City playmaker De Bruyne provided the assist for the equaliser scored by Thorgan Hazard of Borussia Dortmund before he graduated from provider to scorer for the winning goal of the game. The winner from De Bruyne sent Belgium into the round of 16 at Euro 2020, while Denmark have to beat Russia in their last game to have any chance of qualifying for the same stage.

Apart from Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands are also through to the first knockout stage at Euro 2020. Just like Belgium, Netherlands and Italy also won their first two games at the tournament in Group C and A respectively.