Ollie Watkins has said England will not underestimate Denmark’s thirst for revenge when the teams resume their rivalry in Frankfurt on Thursday.
The mood in Denmark has been summed up by Brentford’s manager, Thomas Frank, saying nobody in his home country has forgotten losing their Euro 2020 semi-final against England after Raheem Sterling won a controversial penalty in extra time. Harry Kane converted the rebound after Kasper Schmeichel saved the striker’s spot-kick and Denmark were left to rage at Sterling making the most of minimal contact from Joakim Mæhle.
“In Denmark, they will definitely remember that semi-final,” Frank told the BBC. “And the penalty. Or the foul on Sterling for the penalty. Borderline, let’s say it that way. But of course England are the favourites. They are one of the favourites for the Euros and they have a very good squad. I think they have a very good chance to win it.”
Denmark have work to do after drawing 1-1 with Slovenia in their opening game in Euro 2024 but they will be fuelled by a sense of injustice when they face England, who top Group C after beating Serbia on Sunday.
“We’re very aware of that and also I feel like their team has probably actually got better since that last fixture,” Watkins said.
“The boys are fully aware that they’re dangerous, they’ve had a lot of good players into that team and now they’ve got that experience as well. It’s definitely not going to be taken lightly.”
Kasper Hjulmand, Denmark’s manager, said after the game it was “a penalty which should not have been a penalty”, and he remains aggrieved about that Wembley semi-final. He watched Denmark take the lead through Mikkel Damsgaard’s free-kick, only for England to fight back and reach the final.
“I still wake up at night thinking about that match,” Hjulmand said last December. “Obviously, when you are that close, I think it is something you will always remember and will always carry with you when you are that close to a final. That one hurts. Really, really, a lot.
“We will now see if we can do it better in Frankfurt. It is always there.”
