Euro 2024: Top Spot Up for Grabs in Parken

Denmark vs Slovenia

Top position in Group H will be at stake when Denmark and Slovenia lock horns at Parken Stadium in a highly-anticipated Euro 2024 qualifier.

The Danes are eyeing their fifth consecutive group win, but they will have to showcase their worth on the field against the in-form Slovenians.

Both nations are level on 19 points but Slovenia have the advantage based on goal difference so it could barely be closer.

Talking Points

If Denmark are to create European Championship qualifying highlights, they are seemingly going to have to do it the hard way after they suffered a big blow when Manchester United duo Christian Eriksen and Rasmus Hojlund both went off injured for their club last Saturday.

Eriksen’s composure and creative abilities, aligned to Hojlund’s attacking threat and eye for goal, will be hard to replicate against opponents hungry to qualify for a European championship for only the second time (they reached Euro 2000 in Belgium and Holland).

A statement from United revealed that Eriksen has a knee injury that is expected to keep him out for a month, while the £72m striker Højlund has sustained a muscle strain, with the club saying they hope he will return before the end of November.

Christian Eriksen will miss Denmark's Euro 2024 qualifiers match against Slovenia — Christian Eriksen suffers an injury during Manchester United’s match against Luton Town

Celtic ace Matt O’Riley has been handed a call-up despite having been omitted from the original list, while RB Leipzig striker Yussuf Poulsen is widely expected to lead the line for the hosts.

If Slovenia are to take advantage of key absences in the hosts’ ranks, they will have to do so in an arena which Denmark have turned into a real fortress,

Matjaz Kek’s team have lost just once in 14 matches – a period going back to since June 2022 – and they will back themselves to get over the line.

However if Denmark can extend their undefeated streak to seven matches at a time when they have not lost on home territory since June last year, their cause will also be strengthened no end.

While the Danes are already assured of assured of a play-off spot, manager Kasper Hjulmand will naturally want their place at Euro 2024 secured as soon as possible, particularly when there is a scenario where defeat to Slovenia and Kazakhstan beating Slovenia in their next game would likely leave them needing to beat Northern Ireland next Monday.

The outfit which reached the semi-finals of Euro 2020 against a backdrop of emotion remain the neutrals’ favourites and will dare to dream again and avoid a repeat of last year’s World Cup when they were narrowly beaten by then world champions France en route to group stage elimination as they finished bottom of a group which also comprised Australia and Tunisia.

With Elias Jelert and Simon Kjaer joining Eriksen and Hojlund on the sidelines – Rasmus Kristensen and Andreas Christensen appear most likely to be recalled at right-back and centre-back respectively – perhaos this is Slovenia’s time to shine.

History

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Slovenia have never beaten Denmark but, after four straight defeats, did secure a 1-1 draw last time out.

That was in Ljubljana in June when Andraž Šporar gave the hosts a 25th minute lead before Hojlund equalised three minutes before the break.

They first met in World Cup qualifying for France 98.

Denmark won that first meeting 2-0, thanks to goals from Allan Nielsen and Michael Schjønberg.

The return fixture also went the way of the Danes who hit four without response as Nielsen (two), Per Pedersen and Brian Laudrup found the net.

Three goals in 20 minutes from Jesper Grønkjær, Jon Dahl Tomasson (penalty) and Ebbe Sand settled a 2001 friendly in Copenhagen before a 2008 friendly in Domžale went the way of Denmark.

Dahl Tomasson and Nicklas Bendtner were the scorers on that occasion in a 2-1 victory.