1 week ago
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A penny for the thoughts of Christian Eriksen. Denmark could justify leaving the 33-year-old out of their squad for the meetings with Scotland and Greece on the basis he remains unemployed. Yet as Denmark huffed, puffed and failed to unpick a magnificently drilled Scotland defence, the issue of what Eriksen could have contributed was such an obvious one. Denmark in this form will not play at next summer’s World Cup.
Steve Clarke’s Scotland were well worthy of their point. But for a lack of composure in front of goal, they would have departed Copenhagen with all three. The winners from this opening night of a truncated section were the Greeks, who swept Belarus aside, but Scotland richly deserved their full-time ovation from an appreciative support, while Denmark were booed off.
Clarke sprung a surprise with the deployment of two strikers, Ché Adams and Lyndon Dykes, from the outset. Dykes is a ferocious looking character these days; the Danish defence would be grateful to meet him on a football pitch as opposed to in a dark alley. Equally striking was the sight of John McGinn, who has typically operated on the left or centre of midfield for his country, on the right. Billy Gilmour and Ben Gannon-Doak were named as substitutes. Rasmus Højlund, fresh from his loan move from Manchester United to Napoli, was among Denmark’s replacements.
Scotland had been sloppy in possession before McGinn missed a wonderful chance to give his team the lead. Lewis Ferguson’s deep corner evaded everyone, with the Aston Villa midfielder left in total isolation at the back post. McGinn seemed surprised by his opportunity and scuffed his shot wide. The opening seemed to increase Scottish belief, with Adams only just failing to connect with a teasing Ryan Christie cross. Christie was the next to try his luck, curling a shot high and wide from 19 yards after Ferguson had pinched the ball in midfield.
Denmark had enjoyed plenty of first-half possession without particularly troubling Angus Gunn in the Scotland goal. He reacted smartly to smother the ball before Kasper Dolberg could latch onto an Anders Dreyer through pass 10 minutes before the break. Generally, though, the Danes were laboured. Christie should have punished that, the Bournemouth man instead heading McGinn’s cross wide after 38 minutes. Clarke would have been by far the more content coach at the interval, if slightly concerned by Scottish profligacy. This was, however, not a half that will linger long in anybody’s memory.
Joakim Mæhle deflected a McGinn drive wide as the visitors began the second period on the front foot. Scott McTominay bobbed and weaved his way through the red defence, only to be denied by the feet of Kasper Schmeichel. Clarke would have been well within his rights during the interval to tell his players to be more confident against an underwhelming Denmark team. The early signs were that may have been precisely what Scotland’s manager did.
It seemed inevitable that Denmark would offer more. The 53rd minute featured their finest move of the game thus far, culminating in a low attempt from Pierre-Emile Højbjerg that flew only narrowly wide via Grant Hanley’s deflection. Gunn was beaten had the shot been on target. Hanley, routinely the subject of heavy criticism when in Scotland colours, had been excellent all evening.
Dykes should have sent the Scots in front before the hour mark. Aaron Hickey found McGinn, who sent Adams clear on the right flank. Adams played the ball across to his strike partner, who looked certain to blast a first-time shot past Schmeichel. Dykes delayed inexplicably , allowing Rasmus Kristensen to recover. Kristensen could not believe his luck. How costly would that prove for Clarke and his team? Dreyer almost dished out immediate punishment courtesy of a long range shot which rippled Gunn’s side netting.
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Scotland survived a VAR scare, just moments after Max Johnston replaced Hickey at right-back. Mika Biereth raced to meet a long ball from Schmeichel, which Johnston blocked with his arm. Danish fans appealed vociferously for a red, given Biereth would have been through on goal but for Johnston’s intervention. After a monitor check, the referee refused to alter his original call of a booking for the Scotland player. Johnston had insisted he was pushed by the Denmark attacker.
Denmark, who closed the game with far more attacking impetus than had come before, called for Højlund without this making any material difference. Højberg had the night’s final chance, which he headed straight at Gunn.
