England are gearing up for their first European Championship semi-final in 25 years as they prepare to go head to head with Denmark at Wembley on Wednesday night.
Gareth Southgate will need no reminders about the threat on the horizon given it is just nine months since the Danes claimed a 1-0 win at the same venue in the Nations League.
Here, the PA news agency looks at their most recent encounter and four others ahead of Wednesday’s momentous clash.
England 0 Denmark 1 – October 14, 2020
Harry Maguire may currently be the toast of the town but just a few months ago, he was in something of a tailspin as his arrest in Greece last summer was followed by a poor start to the season. Events seemed to come to a head when he was given his marching orders in this tie for two bookable offences in a wretched 31 minutes. The deciding moment of the game came moments later when Christian Eriksen celebrated his 100th cap by scoring a controversial penalty, awarded after Kyle Walker was harshly adjudged to have fouled Thomas Delaney in an attempt to clear the ball. England’s frustrations boiled over at the final whistle as full debutant Reece James saw red for dissent.
Denmark 0 England 3 – June 15, 2002
England dared to dream after three first-half goals saw them sweep into the World Cup quarter-finals in what was one of the finest performances of the so-called ‘Golden Generation’ under Sven-Goran Eriksson. They were ahead as early as the fifth minute in Niigata, Japan, when a Rio Ferdinand header from a trademark pinpoint cross from David Beckham was fumbled into the net by Danish goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen. Michael Owen turned and finished coolly from close range before Emile Heskey’s first-time strike crept under Sorensen on the stroke of half-time. Hopes were high after a terrific result but England were knocked out by eventual champions Brazil in their next match.
Denmark 0 England 0 – June 11, 1992
Denmark were given a route into Euro 92 through the back door after Yugoslavia’s disqualification because of the country’s dissolution and subsequent warfare in the region. Richard Moller Nielsen’s side contained the likes of Peter Schmeichel and Brian Laudrup, and they went on to cause a major shockwave by winning the tournament after stunning favourites Germany in the final. They started their campaign with a drab goalless draw against Graham Taylor’s England, denied a late winner when John Jensen’s strike hit a post at the Malmo Stadion in Sweden.
Denmark 2 England 2 – September 22, 1982
After succeeding Ron Greenwood in the England hotseat after that year’s World Cup, Sir Bobby Robson started his tenure with a European Championship qualifier at the Idraetspark in Copenhagen. An emerging Denmark side were on the front foot for much of the contest but Trevor Francis twice put England in front. However, Allan Hansen equalised for the first time from the spot after Russell Osman upended Jesper Olsen, who then ensured the spoils would be shared with a fine solo goal in time added-on.
England 5 Denmark 2 – December 5, 1956
England made an assured start to their 1958 World Cup qualifying campaign, even after throwing away a two-goal lead at Molineux. A couple of months earlier, the Danes had been beaten by the Republic of Ireland and they fell behind to two goals from Thomas Taylor but drew level courtesy of Ove Bech Nielsen’s quickfire brace. However, Taylor completed his hat-trick after half-time before Manchester United team-mate Duncan Edwards bagged a brace to add gloss to the scoreline. England prevailed 4-1 in the return match in Copenhagen, Taylor scoring another two goals.
