Denmark with football party against France – Dagsavisen
Kasper Dolberg and Andreas Skov Olsen became the Danish heroes against the reigning world champion in front of a packed stadium in Copenhagen. Denmark also won the first match between the teams.
The dream of victory in the A division lived for a while for the Danes, but Croatia won 3-1 over Austria. It also meant that France avoided relegation and that it was the Austrians who had to go down a level.
Denmark’s result was twelve points and 2nd place, one point behind Croatia. France ended up with just one win in the six matches.
In the Park, it ended with 17-16 in chances in favor of Denmark. The number of corners was 24 in a game that went back and forth a lot in front of committed Danish supporters.
France started the match best, but eventually the hosts woke up. Denmark were very good midway through the 1st, but the attacks mostly ended with corners or comfortable saves for France keeper Alphonse Areola.
After 33 minutes came the reward. The red ones played out from behind. Christian Eriksen hit a nice pass to Mikkel Damsgaard. In the field, Dolberg was in place and slipped into the lead.
Midfielder Thomas Delaney went up no less than four times in the corner in the first half, but the finishes did not result in a goal. At another corner after the break, Delaney tipped the ball back to Skov Olsen, who stood still and hammered home the second goal of the game from 16 metres.
France were almost halfway through the second half when Kylian Mbappé was alone with Kasper Schmeichel, but the keeper made a masterful save. Mbappé was given several opportunities, but was denied each time.
Captain Luka Modric fired Croatia into the lead against Austria in the other match in the same group. Christoph Baumgartner equalized a few minutes later and at the time France were in the relegation zone. That was how it was until Marko Livaja and Dejan Lovren scored three minutes apart in the second half and secured the Croatian victory.
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Battle facts
National League Football Sunday:
A division, group 1:
Denmark – France 2-0 (2-0)
Goals: 1-0 Kasper Dolberg (34), 2-0 Andreas Skov Olsen (39). 36,064 spectators.
Austria – Croatia 1-3 (1-1)
Goals: 0-1 Luka Modric (6), 1-1 Christoph Baumgartner (9), 1-2 Marko Livaja (69), 1-3 Dejan Lovren (72). 45,700 spectators.
Croatia is the group winner, Austria is relegated.
Group 4:
Netherlands – Belgium 1-0 (0-0)
Goal: 1-0 Virgil van Dijk (73).
Wales – Poland 0-1 (0-0)
Goal: 0-1 Karol Swiderski (58).
The Netherlands are pool winners, Wales are relegated.
C Division, Group 1:
Faroe Islands – Turkey 2-1 (0-0)
Goals: 1-0 Viljormur Davidsen (51), 2-0 Jóan Símun Edmundsson (59), 2-1 Serdar Gürler (89).
Luxembourg – Lithuania 1-0 (0-0)
Goal: 1-0 Gerson Rodrigues (89).
Turkey is the group winner and moves up, Lithuania moves down.
Group 3:
Azerbaijan – Kazakhstan 3-0 (0-0)
Goals: 1-0 Aleksandr Marochkin (own goal 66), 2-0 Filip Ozobic (74), 3-0 Anatoliy Nuriyev (90).
Red card: Nuraly Alip (35), Kazakhstan.
Slovakia – Belarus 1-1 (0-1)
Goals: 0-1 Ivan Bakhar (45), 1-1 Adam Zrelák (65).
Kazakhstan is the pool winner and moves up, Belarus moves down.
D Division, Group 1:
Andorra – Latvia 1-1 (0-0)
Goals: 0-1 Vladislavs Gutkovskis (50), 1-1 Albert Rosas (88).
Moldova – Liechtenstein 2-0 (0-0)
Goals: 1-0 Victor Stina (90), 2-0 Stina (90). 5774 spectators.
Latvia is the pool winner and moves up.
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