Euro 2020 Group B
GROUP B
Denmark Finland Belgium Russia
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[Team Jersey Images © Soccerphile]
Denmark
Denmark have the advantage of playing all their group games on home soil in Copenhagen. In Christian Eriksen and Andreas Christensen will be full of confidence after winning Serie A and the Champions League with their clubs in Italy and England this season.
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Denmark Kit 1 |
Denmark Kit 2 |
Denmark Kit 3 |
Denmark v Finland, 12th June, Copenhagen
Denmark v Belgium, 17th June, Copenhagen
Denmark v Russia, 21st June, Copenhagen
Coach
Kasper Hjulmand
Record
1988, 1996, 2000, 2012 First Round, 2004 Quarter Finals, 1964 Fourth Place, 1984 Semi-Final, 1992 Winners
Men to watch
Christian Eriksen holds the key to unlock the defences of Group B. After a torrid half-season at Inter, he was in inspired form to win the 2020/21 Serie A.
Simon Kjær and Andreas Christensen will form a fine partnership especially with the latter replacing Thiago Silva seamlessly in the Champions League final.
A kind draw and three games in Copenhagen means the Danes should make the knockout stages before meeting stiff opposition. There is something of the dark horse about a side only six European nations are ranked higher than right now.
How they qualified
Denmark finished second behind Switzerland in qualifying Group D even though they had the advantage head-to-head.
On the sidelines
Captain Simon Kjær is quite the journeyman. He has played in Germany, Spain, France, Turkey and mostly in Italy, with AC Milan being his fourth Serie A club.
Formation
4-3-3
Analysis
It is rather surprising that Denmark are placed 10th in the FIFA rankings considering they were 51st, their worst record, back in April 2017. Since then, the Danes have improved in leaps and bounds, and have the last eight in their sights.
Though Denmark finished unbeaten in qualifying, the two draws against the Republic of Ireland and a drab stalemate in Georgia meant Switzerland piped them to top spot.
Christian Eriksen has been the star man for years now and the 2020/21 Serie A campaign showed how much of a talent he can be after a frustrating initial half-season. The biggest problem lies in attack, with Martin Braithwaite seen more as a joke figure among Barça fans and Leipzig's Yussuf Poulsen's finishing erratic at best.
To solve this goalscoring issue, perhaps it is wise to keep an eye out for Mikkel Damsgaard, who was a regular fixture all season for Sampdoria at the tender age of 20. His international record so far is impressive, with two goals in as many games.
There is more assurance at the back with the ever-present Simon Kjær and though Andreas Christensen has had his fair share of critics, he ended his club campaign on a very high note winning the UEFA Champions League.
Denmark have a knack of escaping the group stages without much trouble and then losing their first knockout match. Their victory in 1992 was a miracle, and what are the chances of lightning striking twice?
Squad
Goalkeepers: Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City), Frederik Rønnow (Schalke 04), Jonas Lössl (Midtjylland).
Defenders: Joachim Andersen (Fulham), Jannik Vestergaard (Southampton), Simon Kjaer (Milan), Joakim Maehle (Atalanta), Andreas Christensen (Chelsea), Jens Stryger Larsen (Udinese), Nicolai Boilesen (Copenhagen), Mathias Jørgensen (Copenhagen).
Midfielders: Mathias Jensen (Brentford), Thomas Delaney (Borussia Dortmund), Christian Eriksen (Inter), Christian Nørgaard (Brentford), Daniel Wass (Valencia), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Tottenham), Anders Christiansen (Malmö).
Strikers: Martin Braithwaite (Barcelona), Andreas Skov Olsen (Bologna), Kasper Dolberg (Nice), Robert Skov (Hoffenheim), Mikkel Damsgaard (Sampdoria), Yussuf Poulsen (RB Leipzig), Jonas Wind (Copenhagen), Andreas Cornelius (Parma).
Finland
Finland have relatively short trips to St Petersburg and Copenhagen so traveling should not be too much of a burden. Finland are taking part in their first ever European Championship.
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Finland Kit 1 |
Finland Kit 2 |
Finland v Denmark, 12th June, Copenhagen
Finland v Russia, 16th June, Saint Petersburg
Finland v Belgium, 21st June, Saint Petersburg
Coach
Markku Kanerva
Record
Participating for the first time.
Men to watch
Teemu Pukki is the first name on the team sheet and the talisman for the Finns. He is the second-highest goalscorer for Finland just behind the great Jari Litmanen.
Lukáš Hrádecký has the credentials to be one of the best goalkeepers in the Bundesliga and has improved his game since his transfer to Bayer Leverkusen in 2018.
For a team that are happy just to be here, qualifying for the Round of 16 will signify a huge achievement. Having said that, finishing bottom of the group is the most realistic outcome.
How they qualified
With Italy qualifying with a 100% record in Group J, it was a three-way knockout between Finland, Greece and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Finland's impressive home record was key in sealing qualification with a game to spare.
On the sidelines
Robert Taylor's English father, Paul, featured for KuPS in the town of Kuopio, which is where Robert was born. This made him eligible for the Finnish team, nicknamed the Huuhkajat (Eagle-owls).
Formation
4-4-2
Analysis
Considering football isn't the most popular in the country, one may think qualification itself is a job well done. Underestimate at your peril, however, as Greece and Bosnia & Herzegovina found out they were no pushovers.
Captain Tim Sparv was acquired by FC Midtjylland back in 2014 despite the fact that he had only scored one and assisted three in the second tier of German football in the previous campaign. Brentford owner Matthew Benham had seen something that nobody else did. Sparv, who now plays his trade at AEL, turned out to be a great success in Denmark.
Whether it be the Premier League or the Championship, Teemu Pukki is clinical and scored 10 goals during qualifying. A tally only bettered by Eran Zahavi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane. To complement the Norwich striker, Augsburg's Fredrik Jensen has had his shooting boots on for the Nations League.
Make no mistake though, Finland's biggest strength lies in its defence, evident from the healthy number of clean sheets gained over the last few years.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Anssi Jaakkola (Bristol Rovers), Lukáš Hrádecký (Bayer Leverkusen), Jesse Joronen (Brescia).
Defenders: Leo Väisänen (Elfsborg), Paulus Arajuuri (Pafos), Joona Toivio (BK Häcken), Daniel O'Shaughnessy (HJK), Jere Uronen (Genk), Robert Ivanov (Warta Poznań), Nikolai Alho (MTK), Sauli Väisänen (Chievo Verona), Thomas Lam (PEC Zwolle), Jukka Raitala (Minnesota United).
Midfielders: Tim Sparv (AEL), Rasmus Schüller (Djurgården), Fredrik Jensen (Augsburg), Pyry Soiri (Esbjerg), Robin Lod (Minnesota United), Glen Kamara (Rangers), Onni Valakari (Pafos), Robert Taylor (Brann), Joni Kauko (Esbjerg).
Strikers: Teemu Pukki (Norwich City), Joel Pohjanpalo (Union Berlin), Lassi Lappalainen (Montréal), Marcus Forss (Brentford).
Belgium
Could this be the year for Belgium? The number one ranked team in the world certainly have the talent to win the competition. In Romelu Lukaku the Red Devils also possess one of the most in form strikers in European football.
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Belgium Kit 1 |
Belgium Kit 2 |
Belgium Kit 3 |
Belgium v Russia, 12th June, Saint Petersburg
Belgium v Denmark, 17th June, Copenhagen
Belgium v Finland, 21st June, Saint Petersburg
Coach
Roberto Martínez
Record
1984, 2000 First Round, 2016 Quarter-Final, 1972 Third, 1980 Finalists
Men to watch
Romelu Lukaku's renaissance at Inter Milan has been fascinating to watch. Already blessed with strength and speed, Lukaku now has a clinical edge to his game and the understanding that was nurtured between him and Lautaro is something he will want to emulate with Eden Hazard and Dries Mertens.
After the near-misses in the last three tournaments, Belgium will now feel it is win or bust. On paper, only France have a better squad, meaning anything other than the gold medal will constitute failure.
How they qualified
Belgium made lightwork of Group I, winning all ten games.
On the sidelines
Jan Vertonghen, who was the first Belgian player to win 100 caps, achieved the milestone versus Portugal. Bizarrely, that was also the team he made his debut against.
Formation
3-4-3
Analysis
Belgium have a galaxy of stars, with the squad stacked with players who have won many major club titles in the last half-decade. Having said that, the star-quality of its defenders have faded drastically. Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen are not the forces they were a few years ago, and the inconsistencies of Jason Denayer has forced Roberto Martínez to play 35 year-old, J.League-based Thomas Vermaelen ahead of him on a regular basis.
Kevin de Bruyne is the complete package but keep an eye out for Yannick Carrasco. His energy and sharp dribbling was the driving force in Atletico's title charge, an unexpected outcome considering his self-imposed exile to China back in 2018. Expect big performances from Youri Tielemans too, as his game goes from strength to strength under the tutelage of Brendan Rodgers, culminating with a wonderful drive in the 2021 FA Cup Final.
Romelu Lukaku was impervious to most of Serie A's defence, placed second in the scoring charts behind Cristiano Ronaldo, of course. Eden Hazard and Dries Mertens will be the usual suspects in complementing Inter's number 9, but Jérémy Doku could be something of a wildcard. He has already gained the reputation as one of Ligue 1's best dribblers, potentially stretching tired opposition defenders coming on as a substitute.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Simon Mignolet (Club Brugge), Matz Sels (Strasbourg).
Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham), Thomas Vermaelen (Vissel Kobe), Jason Denayer (Lyon), Jan Vertonghen (Benfica), Thomas Meunier (Borussia Dortmund), Leander Dendoncker (Wolves), Timothy Castagne (Leicester), Dedryck Boyata (Hertha Berlin).
Midfielders: Axel Witsel (Borussia Dortmund), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Youri Tielemans (Leicester), Yannick Carrasco (Atlético Madrid), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Dortmund), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge), Dennis Praet (Leicester), Nacer Chadli (İstanbul Başakşehir).
Strikers: Romelu Lukaku (Inter), Eden Hazard (Real Madrid), Dries Mertens (Napoli), Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace), Michy Batshuayi (Crystal Palace), Leandro Trossard (Brighton), Jérémy Doku (Rennes).
Russia
Russian fans don't expect any miracles from their team at this summer's tournament. The rivalry between Spartak Moscow and Zenit St. Petersburg means many Spartak fans cannot identify with the current squad or get behind coach Stanislav Cherchesov, who incidentally had several spells in goal at Spartak as a player.
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Russia Kit 1 |
Russia Kit 2 |
Russia Kit 3 |
Russia v Belgium, 12th June, Saint Petersburg
Russia v Finland, 16th June, Saint Petersburg
Russia v Denmark, 21st June, Copenhagen
Coach
Stanislav Cherchesov
Record
Known as The Soviet Union until 1992. 1992, 1996, 2004, 2012, 2016 First Round, 1968 Fourth Place, 2008 Semi-Final, 1964, 1972, 1988 Finalists 1960 Winners
Men to watch
Artem Dzyuba is prolific at club level and if his 2018 World Cup form is anything to go by, he will be the biggest goalscoring threat yet again.
With the retirement of Igor Akinfeev back in 2018, Anton Shunin is the most likely to take the throne but his place in the starting line-up is anything but safe. Spartak striker Aleksandr Sobolev has his fans but is likely to spend most of his time on the bench.
With Belgium almost certain of winning Group B, it will be a straight knockout between the Russians and the Danes to see who finishes below them. Unless Russia wins the head-to-head, The Red and White of Denmark will take second place.
How they qualified
As Belgium steamrolled to top spot in Group I, Russia had the easy task of winning the rest of their games and finishing second. It is unfortunate that Belgium happens to be in this group too.
On the sidelines
Stanislav Cherchesov proved his critics wrong in World Cup 2018, even though he has the exact same win percentage as his predecessor, Leonid Slutsky, who was in the job for only a year.
Formation
3-5-2
Analysis
As the Golden Generation of Euro 2008 becomes a distant memory, the players who were supposed to replace them, such as Aleksandr Golovin and Aleksei Miranchuk, are struggling to produce results at club level, never mind the international stage.
This means that the reliance on veterans is huge, with the likes of Artem Dzyuba and Yuri Zhirkov expected to play a big role in pulling Russia out of Group B.
Russia's biggest strengths in the last World Cup came from their home advantage and endurance. If that is going to be the case again, Georgi Dzhikiya and Mário Fernandes will be crucial in keeping out players such as Romelu Lukaku and Christian Eriksen.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Yury Dyupin (Rubin Kazan), Anton Shunin (Dynamo Moscow), Matvei Safonov (Krasnodar).
Defenders: Mário Fernandes (CSKA Moscow), Igor Diveyev (CSKA Moscow), Yuri Zhirkov (Zenit), Fyodor Kudryashov (Antalyaspor), Georgi Dzhikiya (Spartak Moscow), Andrei Semyonov (Akhmat Grozny), Vyacheslav Karavayev (Zenit).
Midfielders: Dmitri Barinov (Lokomotiv Moscow), Roman Zobnin (Spartak Moscow), Daler Kuzyayev (Zenit), Denis Makarov (Rubin Kazan), Andrei Mostovoy (Zenit), Denis Cheryshev (Valencia), Aleksandr Golovin (Monaco), Aleksei Ionov (Krasnodar), Aleksei Miranchuk (Atalanta), Magomed Ozdoev (Zenit), Daniil Fomin (Dynamo Moscow), Rifat Zhemaletdinov (Lokomotiv Moscow), Maksim Mukhin (CSKA Moscow).
Strikers: Anton Zabolotny (CSKA Moscow), Aleksandr Sobolev (Spartak Moscow), Artem Dzyuba (Zenit).
Compiled by Sean O'Conor & Joji Imamiya
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