Denmark set up a last-16 tie with Wales in the European Championship after an emphatic victory over Russia on a frantic night in Copenhagen.
Knowing they needed to win and hope Belgium beat Finland, the hosts did not hold back and there were passionate scenes of celebration in Denmark.
Mikkel Damsgaard set the stage alight with an exquisite long-range opener, while Chelsea’s Andreas Christensen also scored with a stunning strike.
Denmark finish second in the group.
The result also means Russia, who started the night in second place, finish bottom of the table and will not qualify.
Yussuf Poulsen had put Denmark 2-0 up, pouncing on a poor backpass from Roman Zobnin before Artem Dzyuba got one back for Russia from the penalty spot.
But Denmark confirmed their progression to the knockout stages when Christensen and Joakim Maehle made it 4-1 in a rampant three minutes.
Emotion, passion and delirium
The Parken Stadium was electric before kick-off as fans sang a passionate national anthem but it was nothing compared to the scenes at full-time.
Players and staff were huddled in the centre of the pitch waiting for confirmation of Belgium’s victory over Finland and there was an almighty roar when the result came through.
Denmark needed a victory and they delivered for the fans – Damsgaard kicking things off with a moment of magic, becoming the country’s youngest goalscorer (20 years, 335 days) at a major tournament in the process.
Poulsen was drenched in beer and thrown into the air by supporters near the goal when he netted Denmark’s second and though Dzyuba’s spot-kick created a moment of anxiety, it did not last long.
Denmark bombarded the Russian goal – keeper Matvey Safonov making a number of stunning saves – before Christensen’s thumping strike erupted the stadium once more.
Maehle’s composed finish capped it off and now Denmark head into the last 16 full of confidence with Wales awaiting next on Saturday, 26 June in Amsterdam.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
Russia
Starting XI
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Squad number16Player nameSafonovAverage rating
5.43
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Squad number14Player nameDzhikiyaAverage rating
4.95
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Squad number3Player nameDiveevAverage rating
4.83
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Squad number13Player nameKudryashovAverage rating
5.00
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Squad number2Player nameMario FernandesAverage rating
5.19
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Squad number7Player nameOzdoevAverage rating
4.88
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Squad number11Player nameZobninAverage rating
4.84
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Squad number23Player nameKuzyaevAverage rating
4.76
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Squad number15Player nameAl MiranchukAverage rating
4.78
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Squad number17Player nameGolovinAverage rating
5.02
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Squad number22Player nameDzyubaAverage rating
5.33
Substitutes
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Squad number4Player nameKaravaevAverage rating
4.32
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Squad number9Player nameSobolevAverage rating
4.13
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Squad number19Player nameZhemaletdinovAverage rating
4.04
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Squad number26Player nameMukhinAverage rating
4.16
Denmark
Starting XI
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Squad number1Player nameSchmeichelAverage rating
8.09
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Squad number6Player nameChristensenAverage rating
8.41
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Squad number4Player nameKjaerAverage rating
8.21
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Squad number3Player nameVestergaardAverage rating
8.01
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Squad number18Player nameWassAverage rating
7.85
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Squad number23Player nameHøjbjergAverage rating
8.50
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Squad number8Player nameDelaneyAverage rating
8.08
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Squad number5Player nameMaehleAverage rating
8.53
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Squad number9Player nameBraithwaiteAverage rating
7.90
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Squad number14Player nameDamsgaardAverage rating
8.51
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Squad number20Player namePoulsenAverage rating
8.15
Substitutes
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Squad number12Player nameDolbergAverage rating
8.08
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Squad number15Player nameNørgaardAverage rating
8.08
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Squad number17Player nameStryger LarsenAverage rating
7.93
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Squad number21Player nameCorneliusAverage rating
7.87
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Squad number24Player nameJensenAverage rating
7.97
Line-ups
Russia
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 16Safonov
- 14Dzhikiya
- 3DiveevBooked at 75mins
- 13KudryashovBooked at 28minsSubstituted forKaravaevat 67′minutes
- 2Figueira Fernandes
- 7OzdoevSubstituted forZhemaletdinovat 62′minutes
- 11Zobnin
- 23KuzyaevSubstituted forMukhinat 67′minutes
- 15Al MiranchukSubstituted forSobolevat 61′minutes
- 17Golovin
- 22Dzyuba
Substitutes
- 1Shunin
- 4Karavaev
- 5Semenov
- 6Cheryshev
- 8Barinov
- 9Sobolev
- 10Zabolotny
- 12Dyupin
- 19Zhemaletdinov
- 20Ionov
- 24Evgeniev
- 26Mukhin
Denmark
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Schmeichel
- 6Christensen
- 4Kjaer
- 3Vestergaard
- 18WassSubstituted forStryger Larsenat 60′minutes
- 23Højbjerg
- 8DelaneyBooked at 57minsSubstituted forJensenat 86′minutes
- 5Maehle
- 9BraithwaiteSubstituted forCorneliusat 85′minutes
- 14DamsgaardSubstituted forNørgaardat 72′minutes
- 20PoulsenSubstituted forDolbergat 60′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Andersen
- 7Skov
- 11Skov Olsen
- 12Dolberg
- 13M Jorgensen
- 15Nørgaard
- 16Lössl
- 17Stryger Larsen
- 19Wind
- 21Cornelius
- 22Rönnow
- 24Jensen
- Referee:
- Clément Turpin
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Russia 1, Denmark 4.
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Second Half ends, Russia 1, Denmark 4.
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Corner, Denmark. Conceded by Georgi Dzhikiya.
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Attempt blocked. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Denmark) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Simon Kjaer.
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Corner, Denmark. Conceded by Vyacheslav Karavaev.
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Andreas Christensen (Denmark) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Alexander Sobolev (Russia).
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Offside, Russia. Vyacheslav Karavaev tries a through ball, but Artem Dzyuba is caught offside.
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Foul by Mathias Jensen (Denmark).
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Aleksandr Golovin (Russia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Kasper Dolberg (Denmark) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Maksim Mukhin (Russia).
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Kasper Dolberg (Denmark) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Aleksandr Golovin (Russia).
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Substitution, Denmark. Mathias Jensen replaces Thomas Delaney.
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Substitution, Denmark. Andreas Cornelius replaces Martin Braithwaite.
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Corner, Denmark. Conceded by Igor Diveev.
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Goal! Russia 1, Denmark 4. Joakim Maehle (Denmark) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Pierre-Emile Højbjerg following a fast break.
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Foul by Kasper Dolberg (Denmark).
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Rifat Zhemaletdinov (Russia) wins a free kick on the left wing.