UEFA Nations League: Danes Due Some Luck at Injury-hit Champs

Spain vs Denmark

It’s been a while since Spain and Denmark locked horns.

In fact, the last time they clashed was a 2008 friendly, when the recently crowned European champions won 3-0, courtesy of a Xabi Alonso double and one from Xavi – two midfield maestros turned managers.

Fast forward 16 years to this UEFA Nations League tie and very little has changed.

Spain are once again the reigning European champions and it’s an exciting time in their development.

Denmark, though, when on form, can continue to be a match for most nations and, after being on the receiving end of some awful officiating at Euro 2024, perhaps their fortune is about to change.

 

Talking Points

For make no mistake, the Danes were the victims of injustice this summer.

Their last 16 exit was sparked by two extremely harsh decisions and perfect examples of why VAR interpretation is spoiling so much about the game right now.

It possibly cost coach Kasper Hjulmand his job too as he resigned a fortnight later, despite being contracted to 2026.

He departed the Scandinavians with a record of 33 wins, eight draws and 14 defeats from 55 matches at the helm – his 60 per cent win rate the highest of any Denmark coach to take charge of more than 50 games.

Morten Wieghorst has agreed a short-term contract until the end of the year to succeed him and so far he has delivered Nations League highlights.

Last month, they licked their wounds and recorded two 2-0 home wins, against Switzerland and Serbia respectively.

Spain actually drew in Serbia last month but bounced back to win comfortably, 4-1, in Switzerland, despite playing the majority of that match with 10 men.

The dismissal of Robin Le Normand means he is suspended for this encounter but, overall, it was another display which highlighted the character, allied to talent, that Luis de la Fuente has at his disposal and which he has moulded to great effect.

Their triumph this summer was a victory for bravery, for courage, for attacking football, combined with discipline.

Spain won all seven matches, becoming the first European nation to win seven matches at a major international tournament (European Championships/World Cup) and just the second overall, along with Brazil at the 2002 World Cup.

There is no doubt they will miss Rodri, arguably the world’s best defensive midfielder for the past few years, voted player of the tournament and now out for the season.

But they should be able to overcome most opponents, even without the quietly influential metronome.

Of course, Rodri is not the only blow the Spanish national team has suffered of late.

Last weekend Dani Carvajal became the second La Roja superstar to sustain an ACL injury, with the veteran right-back now ruled out for most of the next year.

Barcelona forward Ferran Torres is also out for a few weeks and, with Dani Olmo and Nico Williams (one of the stars of the summer) also out, there are fewer options at de la Fuente’s disposal.

Despite this, on home soil, they will start as clear favourites.

As for the Danes, they will have to cope without Joachim Andersen, Mikkel Damsgaard, Christian Norgaard and Morten Frendrup due to injury.

On a more positive note, in-form Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen should earn his 137th international cap.

 

History

Denmark have always struggled against Spain.

In fact, it surprised me to learn they have only ever defeated them twice – once in a 1979 friendly, the other in a World Cup qualifier in 1993.

On that occasion Flemming Povlsen scored the only goal in Copenhagen but it was Spain, not the Danes, who qualified for the following year’s showpiece.

That was the last time Denmark defeated Spain with the Spanish winning six of the subsequent seven encounters.

Their last competitive meeting came in qualifying for Euro 2008, a match played in Aarhus which Spain won 3-1, thanks to goals from Raúl Tamudo, Sergio Ramos and Albert Riera.

Current Sweden manager, Jon Dahl Tomasson, scored the Danish goal that day.

Overall, Spain have won 12 of their 16 meetings with a further two draws.

 

Betting Tip

It’s Spain all the way with the SBOTOP Nations League betting odds.

You can back Viva Espana 1X2 @ 1.34 and Asian Handicap -1.50 @ 2.13.

The Danes, meanwhile, are on offer 1X2 @ 6.80 and Asian Handicap +1.00 @ 2.31.

If you fancy another comprehensive 3-0 Spanish success, then how about Correct Score @ 9.20.

Or if Denmark are to break their 30-year duck against the Spanish – albeit they have not met for half of that period – then a sneaky 1-0 away success will pay out @ 20.00.

With plenty of attacking talent on display, it’s worth considering Over 3.00 goals @ 2.16, and Total Goals 4-6 @ 2.89.

   

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