Eriksen scores in Euro 2024 stalemate on return to tournament

Denmark and Slovenia shared a point in the opening match of Group C at Euro 2024.

The two sides played out a 1-1 draw in an entertaining match for the neutral, with both having the opportunity to win it at the end.

Christian Eriksen marked his return to the tournament with a goal after 17 minutes, doing well to get in and fire past Jan Oblak in goal and give his side the lead.

Denmark went on to dominate much of the match, but Slovenia kept themselves in the game and crucially took advantage late on.

Erik Janza’s deflected effort levelled proceedings with just over 10 minutes left to play, causing mass celebrations from the Slovenia bench and fans in the stadium.

Good chances fell both ways in stoppage time, but neither could take advantage and the spoils were shared ahead of England’s match against Serbia.

As it happened

An excited crowd were gathered for the match in Stuttgart, with plenty of Danish support following their side for the tournament.

It was a positive start for the Danes, who were targeting set pieces with the likes of Andreas Christensen and Jannik Vestergaard towering over the competition.

There was not too much to liven up the Slovenian crowd in the first half, but Benjamin Sesko was unsurprisingly the brightest player for the Eastern Europeans.

He sent a particularly powerful striker towards Kasper Schmeichel but it did not trouble the former Leicester goalkeeper.

Denmark found the opener 17 minutes in through Eriksen, whose international career came full circle after the midfielder collapsed in the opening game of Euro 2020.

The ball was delivered into the box for Jonas Wind, who teed up Eriksen to burst through the Slovenia defence and fire into the bottom corner in what was an excellent finish.

It was his second major tournament goal for Denmark in 14 games, scoring the other against Australia at the 2018 World Cup.

Slovenia pushed on in search of an equaliser in the following minutes, but other than a few corners, the chances were continuously scarce.

Nothing but love for this guy 🥹#EURO2024 | #SVNDEN pic.twitter.com/dcpDJz1PhE

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 16, 2024

They did nearly score an own goal before the break, Sesko kicking it off team-mate Jan Mlakar and sending the ball inches wide of the frame.

Eriksen’s strike was the only shot on target in the first half, with Manchester United comrade Rasmus Hojlund barely getting a sniff of the ball.

It was a much better start for Slovenia in the second half. A long throw caused Denmark some serious problems but they got away with it as Andraz Sporar could not turn the ball home.

They then had a penalty appeal waved away by VAR after the players thought there was a handball in the box, but it was never going to be given.

At the other end, Eriksen delivered a cross that skimmed the top of Christensen’s head, but it deflected off a Slovenia player and inched just wide of the post.

Jan Oblak was then called into action to save from Hojlund, who looked destined to turn home Wind’s cross at the far post.

Slovenia’s best chance of the game came through Cerin, who somehow headed wide from six yards out despite getting up to beat his marker.

Chances were falling for both sides as we entered the last 10 minutes and with so much on the line, it was important for both sides to push on and get their job done.

And having hit the post through Sesko minutes earlier, Slovenia got their equaliser.

GOAL!

Slovenia 1-1 Denmark (Janža 77′) #EURO2024 | #SVNDEN pic.twitter.com/F4p2IXQH4K

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 16, 2024

Janza hit a first-time shot from 20 yards out and it took a huge deflection on its way through to wrong-foot Schmeichel and settled in the back of the net.

The goal gave renewed energy to the Slovenians, who were seemingly now pushing for a winner.

The tension inside the stadium could be cut with a knife as stoppage time approached but in the end, both teams had to settle for a point.

What next for Denmark and Slovenia at Euro 2024?

Denmark will continue their Euro 2024 campaign on 20 June against England, likely needing a win to guarantee them a spot in the knockout stages.

They will complete the group stages against Serbia five days later on 25 June.

For Slovakia, they are going to have to dig deep if they want to have a chance of making it through to the knockouts.

They face Serbia on 20 June before rounding out the first part of the tournament against England 25 June.