Denmark crush Wales to reach the Euro 2020 quarter-finals

faced

in their Euro 2020 round-of-16 battle on Saturday. Robert Page recalled Ben Davies, Chris Mepham, and Kieffer Moore to Wales’ lineup for the match. The three players were benched in their side’s game against Italy as they were already on a yellow card. Page’s side also played without the service of their young defender Ethan Amadu, who was sent off against Italy.

Denmark’s manager Kasper Hjulmand continued to trust Mikkel Damsgaard as Christian Eriksen’s replacement in his side’s midfield. The Danish manager made two changes from the side that crushed Russia 4-1 last week.

and Jens Stryger started ahead of Daniel Wass and Yussuf Poulsen in the team’s starting lineup.

The start of the game saw Wales put pressure on Denmark’s defense to get an early opener.

was close to finding the back of the net in the 12th minute when he smashed a loose ball just wide of the far post.

Having escaped Wales’ initial pressure, Denmark got control of the game and managed to score their opening goal in the 27th minute.

played a give-and-go with Kasper Dolberg, who got the ball on the edge of the box and curled a precise strike into the bottom-right corner of the net. Hjulmand’s side created enough chances to double their lead before the half-time break, but they were denied by

’s impressive goalkeeping.

However, Denmark didn’t wait for too long to extend their lead in the second half. Following a poor clearance from Neco Williams in the 48th minute, Dolberg found the loose ball inside the box and completed his brace with a right-footed strike to the near post.

Wales intensified their efforts to launch a comeback in the last 20 minutes, but they were stunned by Denmark’s deadly counter-attack in the 88th minute. Following a cross-field pass from Mathias Jensen, 

took the ball inside the box and rifled a strike into the roof of the net.

Wales were three goals behind, but their bad night was far from being over. Harry Wilson completed his poor performance by a lazy challenge on Maehle which saw him being sent off in the 90th minute. Denmark continued their attacks throughout the extra time and managed to extend their lead in the 96th minute.

dispatched a fine strike past Ward to convert Andreas Cornelius’ precise pass inside the box. Denmark's fourth goal of the night was initially disallowed for offside, but the referee changed his vote after the decision was reviewed by VAR.

The winner of tomorrow’s battle between the Netherlands and the Czech Republic will face Denmark in the quarter-finals. Hjulmand’s side will play their quarter-final tie on July 3.

Follow

for the

.