A penny for the ideas of Christian Eriksen. Denmark might justify leaving the 33-year-old out of their squad for the conferences with Scotland and Greece on the idea he stays unemployed. But because the hosts huffed, puffed and did not unpick a magnificently drilled Scotland defence, the problem of what Eriksen might have contributed was such an apparent one. Denmark on this kind is not going to play at subsequent summer season's World Cup.
Steve Clarke's Scotland had been worthy of their level. However for an absence of composure in entrance of objective, they might have departed Copenhagen with all three. The winners from this opening night time of a truncated part had been the Greeks, who swept Belarus apart 5-1, however Scotland hard-earned their full-time ovation from an appreciative help. Denmark had been booed off.
“A very good, disciplined efficiency,” mentioned Clarke. “We knew we must defend nicely and definitely did that. We've got 5 extra robust video games, we're below no illusions about that. You don't go to the World Cup simply.”
Clarke sprang a shock with the deployment of two strikers, Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes, from the outset. “If I'm not courageous, I'd as nicely not be within the job,” mentioned the supervisor. Equally hanging was the sight of John McGinn, who has sometimes operated on the left or centre of midfield for his nation, on the appropriate. Rasmus Højlund, recent from his mortgage transfer from Manchester United to Napoli, was amongst Denmark's replacements.
Scotland had been sloppy in possession earlier than McGinn missed an exquisite likelihood to provide his staff the lead. Lewis Ferguson's deep nook evaded everybody, with the Aston Villa midfielder left alone on the again put up. McGinn appeared shocked by his alternative and scuffed his shot large. The opening elevated Scottish perception, with Adams solely simply failing to attach with a teasing Ryan Christie cross. Christie was the subsequent to attempt his luck, curling a shot excessive and large from 19 yards after Ferguson had pinched the ball in midfield.
Denmark had loved loads of first-half possession with out significantly troubling Angus Gunn within the Scotland objective. Gunn reacted well to smother the ball earlier than Kasper Dolberg might latch on to an Anders Dreyer through-pass, 10 minutes earlier than the break. Typically, although, the Danes had been laboured. Christie ought to have punished that, the Bournemouth man as an alternative heading McGinn's cross large after 38 minutes. Clarke would have been by far the extra content material coach on the interval, if barely involved by Scottish profligacy. This was not a half that can linger lengthy in anyone's reminiscence.
Joakim Mæhle deflected a McGinn drive large because the guests started the second interval on the entrance foot. Scott McTominay bobbed and weaved his manner by way of, solely to be denied by the toes of Kasper Schmeichel. Clarke would have been nicely inside his rights in the course of the interval to inform his gamers to be extra assured in opposition to an underwhelming Denmark staff. The early indicators had been that was exactly what Scotland's supervisor did.
It felt inevitable that Denmark needed to provide extra. The 53rd minute noticed their most interesting transfer so far, culminating in a low try from Pierre-Emile Højbjerg that flew solely narrowly large through Grant Hanley's deflection. Hanley, routinely the topic of heavy criticism when in Scotland colors, was glorious all night.
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Dykes ought to have edged the Scots in entrance earlier than the hour mark. Aaron Hickey discovered McGinn, who despatched Adams clear on the appropriate flank. Adams performed the ball throughout to his strike companion, who appeared sure to blast a first-time shot at Schmeichel. Dykes inexplicably delayed, permitting Rasmus Kristensen to recuperate. Kristensen couldn't consider his luck. Dreyer nearly dished out quick retribution courtesy of a long-range shot which rippled Gunn's facet netting.
Scotland survived a scare, simply after Max Johnston changed Hickey at right-back. Mika Biereth raced to satisfy an extended ball from Schmeichel, which Johnston blocked after elevating his arm. Danish followers appealed vociferously for a purple, given Biereth would have been by way of on objective however for Johnston's intervention. After a monitor examine, the referee refused to change his unique name of a reserving for the Scotland participant. The ball appeared to strike Johnston above the T-shirt line, with Biereth additionally nudging his opponent.
Denmark referred to as on Højlund with out it making any materials distinction. Højberg had the night time's closing likelihood, however headed straight at Gunn. “We had the ball rather a lot however didn't do sufficient with it,” mentioned the Denmark coach Brian Riemer. His evaluation was completely honest.
