Fewer cards conceded Denmark clinch 2nd place ahead of Slovenia thanks to the fair play rating

Jan Arnet

25.6.2024

Denmark reach the round of 16 after their third draw.
Imago

Under the eyes of tennis superstar Novak Djokovic, Serbia played out a 0-0 draw against Denmark in Munich and bowed out of the European Championships. The Danes make it through to the round of 16 without a hitch.

Novak Djokovic and the 60,000 spectators in Munich didn't see much that was uplifting. Denmark were able to live with the draw, Serbia were too limited in their play to be really dangerous in their opponents' penalty area. In the end, goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel only had to save a - harmless - ball for the first time in the 92nd minute.

Novak Djokovic watches his Serbs' performance in the stadium.
Keystone

Both teams hit the net once each. However, the Danish attempt in the first half had already gone out for a corner, while Serbia's Luka Jovic was offside when he scored a supposed own goal for the Scandinavians.

The previously tepid match only became more emotional in the final quarter of an hour, when the Serbs brought all their attacking artists onto the pitch. Only then did they, who could only reach the round of 16 with a win, develop some pressure. However, this did not result in any good scoring chances, nor did the Danes make the most of the now more generous space.

Before the tournament, there were mainly questions about Serbia's defense, but in the end their offense was completely inadequate. A single goal in stoppage time against Slovenia was far too little. The Danes were also far from brilliant in this Group C, in which five out of six matches ended in draws. Ultimately, in the battle for second place, the fair play rating compared to the Slovenians, who had the same number of points and goals, tipped the scales in favor of the Danes, who received fewer yellow cards in the preliminary round. Their opponents in the round of 16, Germany, are unlikely to have been shaking while watching. This result also eliminates the Croatians, who can no longer be among the four best third-placed teams in the group.

Denmark - Serbia 0:0

Denmark: Schmeichel; Andersen, Christensen, Vestergaard; Bah (77. Delaney), Hjulmand (77. Kristiansen), Höjbjerg, Maehle; Eriksen (88. Poulsen); Höjlund (59. Dolberg), Wind (46. Skov Olsen).

Serbia: Rajkovic; Veljkovic, Milenkovic, Pavlovic; Mijailovic (74. Mladenovic), Ilic (67. Vlahovic), Gudelj (46. Jovic), Zivkovic; Samardzic (46. Tadic), Lukic (87. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic), Mitrovic.

Remarks: Denmark complete, Serbia without Kostic (injured). 53rd goal of Serbia not recognized (offside). Cautions: 4. Milenkovic. 27th Wind. 30th Hjulmand (suspended for the next match). 83rd Mitrovic.