Czech Republic and Denmark meet in the third Quarter-Final at Olympic Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan as both teams look to secure a semi-final spot at Euro 2020.
Czech Republic qualified for this stage after stunning Netherlands in one of the Round of 16’s biggest cupsets, whereas Denmark thrashed Wales in a ruthless display to book their first Quarter-Final since 2004 – coincidentally against the Czechs who defeated them on that occasion.
Team News
Czech Republic have no fresh injury concerns to report but Vladimir Coufal, Adam Hlozek and Lukas Masopust could start on the bench, due to the risk of suspension hanging over the trio for a potential semi-final if they pick up a booking here.
Denmark also boast no fresh injury concerns to report but Mikkel Damsgaard, Thomas Delaney, Mathias Jensen and Daniel Wass could miss a possible semi-final if they collect another booking, so could be named amongst the substitutes instead.
Stat Attack
- Czech Republic have won two previous meetings against Denmark at the Euros without conceding (W2), winning 2-0 and 3-0 in June 2000 & 04 respectively.
- Denmark have won just one of six previous clashes against Czech Republic in all competitions when playing as the ‘away’ team (W1, D3, L2).
- Five of last six meetings between Czech Republic and Denmark in all competitions have finished in draws except for a 3-0 win for Denmark in March 2013.
- Out of the eight teams to have qualified for the Quarter-Finals, no player has scored more goals than Czech Republic’s Patrik Schick who has netted four goals in three of his four matches.
- No Danish player has recovered more balls this tournament than Simon Kjaer who has made 32 recoveries in four appearances.
Prediction
Having ruthlessly dispatched Netherlands with a clinical display in which they bided their time and forced the Oranje to grow frustrated, in turn boiling over into a red card for Matthijs De Ligt from which the Czechs simply got on the front foot and maximised their one man advantage to take a clinical win.
Denmark meanwhile followed up their stunning final Group B victory over Russia with a devastating display to batter Wales, in which they were simply clinical with ferocious attacks and movement on top of excellent defending and a proper team spirit driving them all forward as a pack.
The Danish though will know that they have an Euro hoodoo against Czech Republic with five conceded goals without reply, which will provide a physiological test but they will be up for this game after having already endured mental pain this tournament.
On that note, team spirit will be key for both teams as well as clinically executing their gameplay especially given the quality of Czech defence compared to Denmark’s attack, yet I feel that Denmark will have the edge on pure emotion and determination.
Prediction: Czech Republic 1-2 Denmark
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