Eriksen masterclass earns Denmark 2-1 victory over Sweden in Euro 2024 warm-up
Christian Eriksen scored a stunning late winner to lead Denmark to a 2-1 victory over Sweden in a lively pre-Euro 2024 friendly at a sold-out Parken stadium on Wednesday, cementing his status as the Danes' most potent creative force ahead of the tournament in Germany.
It took just over a minute for the home team to break the deadlock, as Sweden's defence was caught off guard at the game's first corner, and Eriksen found Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg at the near post for an easy finish.
With the red-clad fans expecting an onslaught, the Swedes responded quickly through Alexander Isak, who collected Jens Cajuste's blocked shot and slammed it past Frederik Ronnow in the Danish goal seven minutes later.
Eriksen, 32, who collapsed due to a heart attack on the same pitch in Denmark's Euro 2020 opener against Finland, pulled the strings throughout, and his curling, dipping strike in the 86th minute earned the Danes a well-deserved victory.
Sweden's Danish coach, Jon Dahl Tomasson, was inducted into the Danish football Hall of Fame prior to kickoff, and his team defended well but struggled in attack, with Isak and Dejan Kulusevski frequently crowded out by the Danish defence.
Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand praised Tomasson for his work so far with Sweden, who failed to qualify for the Euros under previous coach Janne Andersson, paving the way for the Dane to take over.
"(They play) an incredibly aggressive man-to-man game. I think in general we gave away too many turnovers in the first half, and they got chances they shouldn't have gotten," Hjulmand told broadcaster TV2.
"We should have scored a little more ... we must look at the opportunities Sweden got, because we must not give them chances," he added.
Eriksen, who had come under fire for a string of poor set pieces in qualifying, was almost happier with the assist for the opening goal than with scoring the winner.
"It was nice, and it was good that we scored from a dead ball, I think it created a bit of calm in our team," he told broadcaster TV2.
Denmark wrap up their Euro 2024 preparations with a home game against Norway on Saturday before travelling to Germany to face Slovenia, England, and Serbia in Group C.
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