Schmeichel’s Denmark Advance In Emphatic Fashion
- Kasper Schmeichel’s Denmark beat Russia 4-1 to reach the last-16 of the UEFA European Championships
- Youri Tielemans and Dennis Praet’s Belgium finished as Group B winners with a 2-0 triumph versus Finland
- The Leicester City midfielders were unused substitutes on Monday evening
Their first victory came during their final group fixture, as Schmeichel first denied Aleksandr Golovin early on before a stunner from Mikkel Damsgaard put the Danes 1-0 up before the interval.
A second of the match arrived on 57 minutes as Yussuf Poulsen capitalised on a defensive error, and while Artem Dzyuba pulled one back for Russia from the spot, Schmeichel’s nation extended their advantage shortly after.
Andreas Christensen’s long-range drive made it 3-1, before Joakim Maehle added gloss to a glittery display in Schmeichel’s hometown of Copenhagen.
That win, coupled with Belgium’s 2-0 success over Finland, guaranteed Denmark’s safe passage to the knockout stages as runners-up in Group B.
An own goal from Lukas Hradecky and striker Romelu Lukaku’s effort on 81 minutes sealed three points for Roberto Martínez's side at Krestovsky Stadium in St. Petersburg.
Both Youri Tielemans and Dennis Praet were unused from the bench as the Red Devils maintained their 100 per cent group record to finish as winners of their pool.
Danny Ward's Wales will face Schmeichel's Denmark in the last-16 in Amsterdam on Saturday, while Tielemans and Praet will find out who Belgium will face as the group action concludes in the coming days.