England can secure a spot in the Euro 2024 knockout phase with victory over Denmark (Picture: Getty)
After kicking off their Euro 2024 campaign with an unconvincing 1-0 victory over Serbia, England will be targeting a much-improved performance against Denmark on Thursday night.
Though Jude Bellingham’s thunderous 13th-minute header ultimately proved decisive, the Three Lions were almost punished after a lacklustre second-half display in Gelsenkirchen, with Jordan Pickford denying Dusan Vlahovic in the closing stages.
But England held firm to secure maximum points, a result which ensured they moved to the top of Group C ahead of their second match versus Kasper Hjulmand’s Danes, who drew 1-1 with Slovenia in their opener.
Another win would secure England’s spot in the knockout phase of the tournament but Southgate will be wary of the opposition, ranked 21 in the world and boasting high-profile names like Christian Eriksen, Rasmus Hojlund and Kasper Schmeichel.
Thursday’s clash in Frankfurt is, of course, a repeat of the Euro 2020 semi-final, which saw England come from behind to secure their place in the final against Italy, where they would go on to lose on penalties.
Heading into the contest, there are several question marks hanging over Southgate’s starting XI, with Luke Shaw still yet to return to first-team action following a hamstring injury and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s performance against Serbia proving divisive.
There have also been calls for Southgate to inject added pace into his attack with the inclusion of Cole Palmer, Eberechi Eze or Anthony Gordon after Serbia successfully kept England at bay for large periods of Sunday’s cagey affair.
England team news and injury latest
Shaw has been sidelined with a hamstring injury (Picture: Getty)
Fortunately, England came through the test with Serbia unscathed and Southgate is unlikely to stray too far from his previous starting XI at Frankfurt’s Deutsche Bank Park.
However, Shaw was an unused substitute at the weekend and Southgate could be tempted to give the experienced Manchester United full-back game-time before the knockout games, assuming England make it that far.
There is an outside chance Shaw could be thrown into the starting line-up but the full-back is most likely to be introduced off the bench, with Kieran Trippier expected to keep hold of his place on the left side of the defence.
In attack, Manchester City sensation Phil Foden – the Premier League Player of the Season – could be handed a rest after an uncharacteristically fruitless performance last time out.
Gordon is pushing for a place in England’s starting line-up (Picture: Getty)
This could see one of Palmer, Eze or Gordon given the nod. The trio should be fresh and raring to go heading into the encounter given all three were unused substitutes against Serbia.
Denmark could shake up their side in the wake of their unconvincing showing previously, with Brentford’s Christian Norgaard and Mathias Jensen pushing for starts.
Meanwhile, Simon Kjaer, Denmark’s captain, could return to the fold in central defence as he makes his way back to full fitness following a muscle problem.
Predicted England XI for Denmark fixture
Newcastle star Gordon could be given the nod in attack against Denmark (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
England vs Denmark TV channel and kick-off time
England vs Serbia kicks off at 5pm BST on Thursday 20 June. The match will be broadcast live on BBC One with a live stream available through BBC iPlayer.
England vs Denmark H2H record
Dating back to their first ever meeting in 1948, England have won 13, drawn five and lost just four of their 22 matches against Denmark.
The Danes have never beaten England at a major tournament, with the Three Lions beating them in the Euro 2020 semi-finals and the 2002 World Cup at the round-of-16 stage.
The two teams also played out a goalless draw in the group stage of Euro 1992.
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