Joachim Andersen (top R) of Denmark heads the ball during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group C match between Denmark and England in Frankfurt, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)
BERLIN, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Harry Kane's goal wasn't enough for the Three Lions as Morten Hjulmand's hammer secured Denmark a 1-1 draw while Spain won in Group B after beating Italy on the own goal from Riccardo Calafiori in the second round of the Euro 2024 group stage on Thursday.
England dictated the pace and pressed Denmark onto the back foot from the kick-off at a sold out Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt.
The Three Lions created their first half chance when Kyle Walker teed up Phil Foden, who pulled wide from central position with 13 minutes gone.
Walker kept Denmark's defence busy and assisted Harry Kane with the opener after providing a deflected cross into the box, five minutes later.
Denmark remained unimpressed and pushed forward whereas England put all their men behind the ball.
The Danes got rewarded for their efforts at the half hour mark when Morten Hjulmand drilled the equalizer from 25 meters past England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
After the restart England came out with their guns blazing as Foden rattled the woodwork with a low drive in the 56th minute before Denmark goalie Kasper Schmeichel denied Ollie Watkins a goal following a one-on-one in the 71st minute.
Denmark almost clinched a late win, but Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's curl missed the target narrowly wide in the closings stages.
"We struggled to have control in the game, and it led to an anxious performance. That must be better if we want to go further in the tournament," said England head coach Gareth Southgate.
In the other Group C clash, Serbia snatched an injury time leveller through Luka Jovic, who cancelled out Benjamin Sesko's opener for Slovenia, to maintain their chances to advance into the next round.
With the results, England (4 points) stays atop the standings followed by Denmark, Slovenia (both 2 points) and Serbia (1 point).
In Group B, Spain booked their berth for the last 16 after securing the second straight win.
Spain dominated the one-sided affair but needed help by Calafiori to break the deadlock in the second half. Italy lacked in ideas to threaten Spain's defence and goalkeeper Gianlugi Donnarumma made several saves to prevent a higher loss.
"It wasn't easy, but we know Italy is always a tough opponent. The happier we are to have secured all three points as we want to win the title," said player of the match Nico Williams.
Spain tops the group with six points while Italy remains on the second with three points followed by Albania and Croatia, both with one point. ■
Bukayo Saka (L) of England vies with Victor Kristiansen of Denmark during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group C match between Denmark and England in Frankfurt, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)
Bukayo Saka (2nd L) of England shoots during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group C match between Denmark and England in Frankfurt, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)
Jude Bellingham (C) of England vies with Christian Eriksen of Denmark during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group C match between Denmark and England in Frankfurt, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)
Eberechi Eze (L) of England vies with Morten Hjulmand of Denmark during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group C match between Denmark and England in Frankfurt, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)
Harry Kane (front L) of England celebrates scoring during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group C match between Denmark and England in Frankfurt, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)
Rasmus Hojlund (R) of Denmark breaks though during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group C match between Denmark and England in Frankfurt, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)
Phil Foden (L) of England vies with Joakim Maehle of Denmark during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group C match between Denmark and England in Frankfurt, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)
Harry Kane (3rd R) of England shoots to score during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group C match between Denmark and England in Frankfurt, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)
Ollie Watkins of England competes during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group C match between Denmark and England in Frankfurt, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)
Nikola Milenkovic (L) of Serbia vies with Benjamin Sesko of Slovenia during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group C match between Slovenia and Serbia in Munich, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Photo by Philippe Ruiz/Xinhua)
Goalkeeper of Serbia Predrag Rajkovic (L) makes a save during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group C match between Slovenia and Serbia in Munich, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Photo by Philippe Ruiz/Xinhua)
Vanja Drkusic (L) of Slovenia vies with Aleksandar Mitrovic of Serbia during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group C match between Slovenia and Serbia in Munich, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Photo by Philippe Ruiz/Xinhua)
Players of Slovenia defend a free-kick by Dusan Vlahovic (3rd R) of Serbia during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group C match between Slovenia and Serbia in Munich, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Photo by Philippe Ruiz/Xinhua)
Vanja Drkusic (rear) of Slovenia vies with Aleksandar Mitrovic of Serbia during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group C match between Slovenia and Serbia in Munich, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Photo by Philippe Ruiz/Xinhua)
Adam Gnezda Cerin (L) of Slovenia vies with Dusan Tadic of Serbia during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group C match between Slovenia and Serbia in Munich, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Photo by Philippe Ruiz/Xinhua)
Mijat Gacinovic (L) of Serbia vies with Erik Janza of Slovenia during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group C match between Slovenia and Serbia in Munich, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Photo by Philippe Ruiz/Xinhua)
Zan Karnicnik (1st R) of Slovenia shoots to score during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group C match between Slovenia and Serbia in Munich, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Photo by Philippe Ruiz/Xinhua)
Goalkeeper of Slovenia Jan Oblak makes a save during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group C match between Slovenia and Serbia in Munich, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Photo by Philippe Ruiz/Xinhua)
Federico Chiesa (C) of Italy comforts Marc Cucurella (bottom) of Spain during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Italy in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)
Marc Cucurella (R) of Spain vies with Federico Chiesa of Italy during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Italy in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (R), goalkeeper of Italy, saves the ball during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Italy in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)
Aymeric Laporte (2nd L) of Spain heads the ball during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Italy in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)
Lamine Yamal (2nd L, front) of Spain celebrates an own goal by Italy during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Italy in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)
A supporter of Spain cheers before the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Italy in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)
Marc Cucurella (R) of Spain vies with Federico Chiesa of Italy during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Italy in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)
Referee Slavko Vincic gestures during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Italy in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)
Lamine Yamal (3rd R) of Spain breaks through during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Italy in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
Lamine Yamal (2nd R) of Spain vies for the ball during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Italy in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
Lamine Yamal (R) of Spain passes the ball during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Italy in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
Gianluigi Donnarumma, goalkeeper of Italy, makes a save during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Italy in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
Lamine Yamal (R) of Spain breaks through during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Italy in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
Goalkeeper of Italy Gianluigi Donnarumma (3rd R) receives a yellow card during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Italy in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
Fabian Ruiz (1st R) of Spain shoots the ball during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Italy in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
Riccardo Calafiori (2nd R) of Italy scores an own goal during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Italy in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
Nico Williams (C) of Spain breaks through during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Italy in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
Former UEFA General Secretary Gerhard Aigner's photo is displayed on stadium screens during a minute of silence before the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Italy in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
Starting players of Italy sing national anthem before the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Italy in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
Head coach Luciano Spalletti (R) of Italy sings Italian national anthem before the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B match between Spain and Italy in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
