Stojkovic believes Serbia gave positive impression despite crashing out of Euro 2024

Coach Dragan Stojkovic insisted Serbia “showed themselves positively” despite their limp exit from Euro 2024 tonight.

Stojkovic’s side needed to beat Denmark in Munich to stand any chance of advancing to the knockout stages which made his team selection – in which he left creative spark Dusan Tadic and striker Dusan Vlahovic on the bench – surprising.

Both men came on as Serbia chased the game but it was too little too late as they failed to break down the defence of a Denmark side that got the point they required from a goalless draw to qualify in second place in Group C.

Stojkovic said: “I can say that I am proud of the boys. They fought, they did their best. They ran a lot of kilometers.

“If we go into a deeper analysis, the defeat against the English and the point we deserved brought us to this situation. We made a good impression. The players deserve congratulations for their fighting spirit. They represented Serbia in the best possible way and showed themselves positively.”

Chances few and far between

On tonight’s game, he added: “It was a tough and tactical game for both sides. The number of chances also speaks for itself. We knew there wouldn’t be many of them. 

“We knew that if we got a chance to score, we had to, it would decide the game. 

“Slovenia and Denmark have not beaten anyone, and they are moving on, unbelievable but true.”

It ends 0-0 in Munich.#EURO2024 | #DENSRB pic.twitter.com/xaWfN7woh1

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 25, 2024

Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand rued his side’s inability to take one of their first-half chances and save themselves a nervy second period knowing just one Serbia goal would see them eliminated.

He said: “It was a tough, emotional fight, and we knew that would be the case well in advance. It would have been nice to score a goal so we had a buffer, and we had our hearts in our throats. I think we should be happy to be through. The first goal has been reached.

“We must remember to celebrate like crazy, and then we have some unresolved things offensively that we need to do better.

“We have the quality. We have so many players we can use there. We can create more situations where we’re dangerous.

“We got through the group stage, so let’s just be very happy about this. We’re representing Danish football, the thousands of volunteers at different clubs who do a great job. We’re everyone’s team, and we have to be happy about it.”

Eriksen proud of Denmark’s display

Man of the match Christian Eriksen added: “I am proud and I am relieved. I think we were pressured at the end. I am proud that we have gone through.

“I think we fought to the very last. They had to go forward to score while we already had a result at 0-0 and for that reason we were a bit passive at the end.”