Euro 2020 began in horribly harrowing fashion for Denmark but it is turning into a tournament they can remember for the right reasons. They are its first quarter-finalists while Wales, instead of repeating 2016’s journey to the last four, conceded four. Five years on, Denmark look the endearing overachievers.
Only the Netherlands or the Czech Republic stand between them and a first semi-final since 1992. Their inspired progress is amounting to a wonderful tribute to their sidelined team-mate Christian Eriksen, who suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch against Finland.
Denmark’s tournament is becoming an example of how to produce an exemplary response to adversity. Their greatest misfortune was losing Eriksen but Yussuf Poulsen had helped compensate with goals against Belgium and Russia.
Then he was ruled out with a hamstring problem. So enter Kasper Dolberg, who promptly scored twice to cap a brilliant performance.
The relentless Joakim Maehle won his duel with Gareth Bale and garnished his display with the third goal and the all-action Martin Braithwaite added a fourth.
Meanwhile, Mikkel Damsgaard offered further evidence of his rich promise as he again looked one of the tournament’s breakout stars, Thomas Delaney was dominant in midfield, Simon Kjaer defended defiantly and Kasper Hjulmand changed the game after Wales made the better start.
Dolberg could enjoy a return to his former home ground. He may not have hit the heights his Ajax career promised but the Nice forward delivered a lovely first goal, curling a 20-yard shot in after Damsgaard found him.
He almost doubled his tally with a near-post flick from Damsgaard’s cross, with Danny Ward saving. Instead, the inadvertent assist for his second came from the Wales substitute Neco Williams, who met Braithwaite’s cross with an awful clearance to Dolberg. He slotted in a shot and Wales’ complaints about a foul on Kieffer Moore in the build-up were in vain.
The majority found plenty to cheer. With many Danes able to travel to Amsterdam and Ajax one of Eriksen’s old clubs, this almost amounted to an away game for Wales. They had produced an outstanding display in similar circumstances against Turkey in Baku but not this time.
Bale made a fine first impression, presenting the Denmark captain Kjaer with a Wales shirt with Eriksen’s name and number on it and the message ‘get well soon’ in Welsh.
Initially, his team-mates struggled to cope without Poulsen and the influential wing-back Daniel Wass. The first 15 minutes promised much for Wales. Bale sent a swerving shot just wide. Aaron Ramsey looked shot-happy and elusive.
But then Hjulmand, who has earned praise for his empathetic leadership in difficult circumstances, offered an illustration of his tactical prowess. He shifted Andreas Christensen forward to mark the Juventus midfielder and Ramsey was quieter thereafter.
Denmark played with dynamism and determination. Wales were outclassed. A passive Robert Page delayed bringing on David Brooks and could not conjure a change as influential as Hjulmand’s reshuffle. Kasper Schmeichel did not have a save of note to make while Denmark continued to threaten.
First the substitute Mathias Jensen flicked the post with a cross and then Braithwaite hit the post and Joachim Andersen almost struck. Then came two late goals, Maehle lifting a shot into the roof of the net and Braithwaite scoring in added time.
Wales were ragged by then and their game ended in ignominy with the substitute Harry Wilson sent off for a hack at Maehle. It may have been harsh but it capped their heaviest ever defeat in a European Championship match.
Wales had lost Connor Roberts to a groin strain earlier and, when Williams erred for the second goal, Page may have wished he had replaced him with the veteran Chris Gunter instead. Wales’ tournament peaked against Turkey. Bale and Ramsey have led them to their greatest moments since the 1950s but perhaps this was their final outing on a major international stage. Wales must hope not.
RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile
Started: 2016
Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
Based: Ramallah, Palestine
Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
'Spies in Disguise'
Director: Nick Bruno and Troy Quane
Stars: Will Smith, Tom Holland, Karen Gillan and Roshida Jones
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Company profile
Company name: Suraasa
Started: 2018
Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker
Based: India, UAE and the UK
Industry: EdTech
Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
More on animal trafficking
Famous left-handers
- Marie Curie
- Jimi Hendrix
- Leonardo Di Vinci
- David Bowie
- Paul McCartney
- Albert Einstein
- Jack the Ripper
- Barack Obama
- Helen Keller
- Joan of Arc
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
THE BIO
Ambition: To create awareness among young about people with disabilities and make the world a more inclusive place
Job Title: Human resources administrator, Expo 2020 Dubai
First jobs: Co-ordinator with Magrudy Enterprises; HR coordinator at Jumeirah Group
Entrepreneur: Started his own graphic design business
Favourite singer: Avril Lavigne
Favourite travel destination: Germany and Saudi Arabia
Family: Six sisters
Who are the Soroptimists?
The first Soroptimists club was founded in Oakland, California in 1921. The name comes from the Latin word soror which means sister, combined with optima, meaning the best.
The organisation said its name is best interpreted as ‘the best for women’.
Since then the group has grown exponentially around the world and is officially affiliated with the United Nations. The organisation also counts Queen Mathilde of Belgium among its ranks.
New schools in Dubai
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Reading List
Practitioners of mindful eating recommend the following books to get you started:
Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life by Thich Nhat Hanh and Dr Lilian Cheung
How to Eat by Thich Nhat Hanh
The Mindful Diet by Dr Ruth Wolever
Mindful Eating by Dr Jan Bays
How to Raise a Mindful Eaterby Maryann Jacobsen
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Understand What Black Is
The Last Poets
(Studio Rockers)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
2.0
Director: S Shankar
Producer: Lyca Productions; presented by Dharma Films
Cast: Rajnikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
