Denmark have Harder, but Germany were better, faster and stronger – they will take some stopping

Reports of Germany’s weaknesses may have been greatly exaggerated. On Friday evening, they tormented Denmark, their conquerors from Euro 2017. Germany won by a four-goal margin and still Lars Sondergaard’s players will be thankful that the gap was not greater. Denmark will likely have to beat tournament favourites Spain to progress. They have Pernille Harder; Germany were better, faster and stronger.

Friday was a stupefyingly, stultifyingly hot afternoon in west London, the type that makes you celebrate internally when you turn a corner and encounter a slight breeze. Danish supporters commandeered The Express Tavern on Kew Bridge Road in search of afternoon shade and sustenance, but were joined by those in white shirts. The lagers and gin and tonics were entirely medicinal, you understand.

But they worked. By kick-off, those supporters generated the best atmosphere of the tournament so far. Coincidentally or otherwise, we also had the best spectacle: Germany’s front three swapping positions to drag defenders out of position, Denmark aiming to threaten on the counter attack. This was major tournament football at its best, two teams aiming to expose their opponent’s weakness rather than protect their own. Perhaps that was down to Spain’s 4-1 victory over Finland earlier in the day; it gave it the feeling of a playoff.

Germany were magnificent. They hit the bar twice, forced Denmark goalkeeper Lene Christensen into at least four sprawling stops and scored once in each half. They had a goal disallowed. Lina Magull rasped a shot into Christensen’s top right-hand corner. Lea Schuller – a Golden Boot candidate – nudged home a header from a Magull corner. Lena Lattwein thrashed home a third with 12 minutes remaining. The fourth, an Alexandra Popp diving header, was a thing of immense beauty.

More from Football

Spain survive fastest goal in Women's Euro history but don't look like champions just yet08 July, 2022Lenglet is not the flashy signing Spurs fans wanted, but neither were Bentancur or Kulusevski08 July, 2022How the Championship's 'Alexander-Arnold' went from Middlesbrough outcast to Spurs target08 July, 2022

But it was the application of their victory that impressed more than its aesthetics. Maria Voss-Tecklenberg’s team played as if charged by the concerns of those back home who fear a third successive quarter-final exit at a major tournament, and with it the loss of their dynastical grip upon this confederation. They are a team of fighters and artists and plenty of them are happy to moonlight at both.

“We may no longer be among the top favourites,” said Voss-Tecklenburg on the eve of this tournament. Fair enough, Martina, you got us. With Spain suffering injuries to two key players and Germany’s front three dismantling one of the competition’s dark horses, this tournament is already opening up for its historic powerhouse to play its greatest hits.

from Football | News and analysis from the Premier League and beyond | iNews https://ift.tt/v0xXfzb