Thomas Delaney guided Denmark into the semi-finals of the European Championship on Saturday evening. Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham also helped England to reach the last four. Manuel Akanji (Switzerland) and the Belgian trio of Thomas Meunier, Thorgan Hazard and Axel Witsel had already been knocked out in Friday’s quarter-finals.
Thomas Delaney not only fired the Danes into the lead against Czechia courtesy of his fifth-minute header, but also delivered a combative performance up until he was substituted in the 81st minute, and was voted “Man of the Match”.
In the later game on Saturday evening, England also reached the next round. Jadon Sancho made the starting XI and played the full 90 minutes, while Jude Bellingham came on in the 65th minute of the 4-0 victory against Ukraine.
The first game of the day on Friday, which Manuel Akanji started, promised to be a dramatic affair. With no winner in 90 minutes and the score at 1-1, the teams first played out extra-time and then went on to a penalty shootout. Remarkably, the Swiss national team had been down to 10 men since the 77th minute and fought right until the end. But it was the Spaniards who held their nerve from the spot. Five players missed in total, including Manuel Akanji. Nonetheless, Manu had a great tournament and can hold his head high!
Three Black & Yellows started for Belgium later that evening – Witsel, Meunier and Hazard. But they also could not make it through to the semi-finals of the European Championship on a Friday evening that seemed as though it wasn’t meant to be for the BVB representatives. In the end, Italy deservedly won 2-1.
