Russia eliminated from Euro after nightmare in Copenhagen

Euro 2020 Group B Matchday 3
Russia 1-4 Denmark
Monday 22 June, Parken Stadion (Denmark)

Goals: Russia - Dzyuba (pen 70); Denmark - Damsgaard (38), Poulsen (59), Christensen (79), Maehle (82)

For the third consecutive European Championships Russia failed to qualify for the knockouts, this time knocked out by a heavy defeat in Denmark. Things started well for Russia, as Aleksandr Golovin had a shot on target after running into the box, but Kasper Schmeichel stopped the shot with his legs. At the other end Matvey Safonov was helpless when Mikkel Damsgaard fired outside the box into the top corner and became the first player born in the 21st century to score at the Euros.

Denmark struck for the second time after the break, when Roman Zobnin’s pass-back to Safonov was stolen by Yussuf Poulsen, and the striker scored his second goal of the tournament. After Cherchesov brought on four substitutes, one of them - Aleksandr Sobolev - earned a penalty which was converted by Artem Dzyuba, who scored his first goal in six Euro games. But later long shots by Andreas Christensen and Joakim Maehle broke the last Russian hopes of clinching  spot in the Round of 16.

The other group B fixture Finland vs Belgium ended in a 2-0 Belgium win thanks to a Lukas Hradecki own goal and Romelu Lukaku.

Russia finish bottom of Group B with three points and are knocked out, while Denmark finish second due to the best goal difference between them, Finland and Russia. Belgium and Denmark qualify for the Round of 16, while Finland are currently third in the third-place teams rankings and await the other groups results.