(Cologne) England, qualified before kick-off, failed to convince or beat Slovenia on Tuesday in Cologne (0-0), in the last match of Group C in which they nevertheless finished in first place.
The Slovenes, third in the group, also qualify for the round of 16 of Euro-2024, a first in their history during which they have never made it out of a group during a major tournament.
In the round of 16, the “Three Lions” could face the Netherlands, third in Group D, that of France, but we will have to wait for the results of the last group matches on Wednesday to know their opponent with certainty.
But the status of favorites in the competition seems difficult to assume for Jude Bellingham’s partners, sparkling all season with Real Madrid, once again disappointing with his selection.
Too predictable, not explosive enough, neither he nor any other of his teammates managed to really endanger a Slovenian team that was perfectly in place defensively.
By trying to counterattack, the Slovenes nevertheless exposed their offensive limit, approaching only on too rare, sterile occasions the goal of Jordan Pickford, the English goalkeeper.
Third in this boring group, in which the Danes and Serbs, in the other meeting on Tuesday, did not manage to decide between themselves or score the slightest goal, their happiness was elsewhere, when the final whistle blew from Clément Turpin, the French referee of the match, they exploded with joy, communing for long minutes with their supporters who came in large numbers.
At the end of the suspense and thanks to the fair play ranking, Kasper Hjulmand’s Denmark qualified for the round of 16 of Euro 2024, with its draw against Serbia (0-0), making an appointment with Germany on Saturday (9 p.m.) in Dortmund.
Denmark, facing Serbia, and Slovenia, facing England, engaged in a long-distance duel between Munich and Cologne for second place in a very tight Group C, first place going to England unconvincing.
In Munich, the Danes generally dominated the debates without managing to put themselves out of harm’s way and without even posing a huge threat to the Serbian goal by Predrag Rajkovic. And in the added time of the second half they had a few unnecessary cold sweats, but Kasper Schmeichel, hardly called upon during the match, made two saves to preserve the draw and qualification.
The message of encouragement from Novak Djokovic, engaged in a race against time for Wimbledon (July 1-14) and the Olympic Games in Paris (July 26-August 11) but present in the stands of the Munich stadium, will not have not enough.
Dominant in the first period with possession of the ball, the Danes created the clearest chances, notably with Christian Eriksen, whose shot at the entrance to the penalty area was pushed away with his fingertips by the Serbian goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic.