The Battle of the Jutland: Denmark-Germany at Euro 2012

LVIV, Ukraine

Summary

     In the final day for Group B games at the 2012 UEFA Euro Cup, 'Group of Death' opponents Germany and Denmark squared-off at the Arena Lviv in Lviv, Ukraine.

     Going into the match, the Germans had two wins and six points, while the Danes had one win, and one loss for three points. For the Danes, a win meant advancing to the knockout round, with a draw advancing them only if the Dutch beat the Portuguese. For the Germans to miss the knockout round, they would have had to lose to the Danes and see the Portuguese win against the Dutch.

     Both teams started the match in a 4-5-1 formation, with the Germans winning the coin toss and receiving the first touch. The Danes got off to a good start with a long ball that ended in an offsides, but the Germans answered by a near-goal by Thomas Muller from inside the Danish penalty-area. The German attack was relentless in the opening minutes. A Danish counter attack from a corner in the fifth minute ended with a good header, defended by the German keeper, Manuel Neuer.

     Another quick attack from the Germans ended in a shot from Muller, but was saved by Danish keeper Stephan Andersen. German play slowed-down and focused on possession, similar to the style of football displayed by Spain in their 4-0 win over the Republic of Ireland last week. Play then settled-down as the Germans worked the possession with excellent passing which turned into quick breaks on goal. Daniel Agger led his team well, and broke-up excellent German play in the Danish penalty area.

     The scoring opened in the nineteenth minute as Lukas Podolski drove in a shot from inside the box, the ball passing just between the hands of Andersen. Denmark answered in at 24' with a beautiful headed goal by Michael Khron-Dehli after a corner was redirected to him by Nicklas Bendter.  Germany then had two chances at set pieces, one from a free kick and another from a corner, although they were unable to capitalize on either.

     The second half began with a Dannish possession, followed by attack-after counterattack from both squads. The first real excitement of the second-half came when Jakob Poulson missed wide on a good chance from close range, hitting the left goal-post.

     It was possession football from then on, with the Germans slowing their game again, looking for an opportunity to score, and thus ensure their dominance of Group B. There was a good opportunity generated at 67', with a shot on by substitute Andre Schurrle that was saved by Andersen. A Danish possession in the 69th minute displayed a mixture of wing-play with good possession, and ended with a long shot which bounced away a yard wide after an easy save for Neuer, resulting in a corner.

     A 75th minute attack by Bendter ended with a near-foul in the German box, but was a very near goal for the Danes. In the last fifteen minutes of play, the Danes opened up with a pressing attack. Lars Bender caught the Danes on the counter-attack in the 79th minute with a breakaway goal from inside the Danish penalty area. Agger broke up a good German corner in the 83rd minute, stopping a good chance and what would have sealed Germany's win. An offside showed the hunger for Denmark to draw the game even at 2-2 in the 85th minute. Two German and one Danish offsides during stoppage slowed play, but the game ended with a German advance to a game against Greece in the Quarter-Finals.