Group B: Denmark 3-3 Italy

Denmark Observations

 

In Possession

• Highly organised 4-3-3. All players appear attuned to their individual roles and the collective team intentions across attacking phases

• Heavy emphasis on patient build-up: inviting and playing through pressure

  • GK and CBs demonstrate awareness of body shape, passing angles and pass detail in deep build-up

  • CMs - especially #6 - key to build-up. Consistently offering support angles and line-breaking options alongside #8 with the pair continuously switching between operating in double or single pivot 

  • FBs and wingers both asymmetric roles:

    • FBs: LB (#5) stayed deeper and RB (#3) advanced higher

    • Wingers: RW (#19) drifted inside and LW (#20) held width​

  • #18 operated between the Italy defensive and midfield lines, finding pockets of space to receive line breaking passes and cause marking dilemmas

  • #9 led the forward line, with license to drop to receive to feet

• Highly successful playing through Italy's high pressure, typically progressing into and through CM

• In the opposition half and final 3rd, often lacked quality in the final action (pass, cross, shot), especially considering the volume of times they arrived in promising attacking situations due to the quality of their approach play​

• Denmark organisation and individual / collective understanding applicable to set-pieces too with their first goal being a well-worked short corner routine which intentionally created a 4v3 out wide

​​​​​

Out of Possession​

• Highly organised and coordinated system across every defensive phase. Highly impressive

• All players attuned to their individual roles and the collective team intentions

• 1st Half: Very proactive and aggressive, constantly looking to apply pressure on the ball

• Rarely passive for too long, even in mid / low blocks. Look for triggers to spring into collective presses

• In high pressure phases, #9 was positioned deeper to mark the Italy DM, while the wingers pressed the CBs from out-to-in

• 2nd Half: ​​Pressing intensity reduced compared with the 1st Half but organisation remained. Presses became more selective and controlled and they continued to win possession
• Areas of weaknesses:
  • Due to the team's attacking structure, there were frequent spaces for Italy to attack in attacking transitions
  • Set pieces (1st and 2nd phases) / Box defending: Conceded two goals from corners. Failed to clear box and lacked aggression to defend own box despite bodies back (opposite to approach outside box)

​

Players

• #1 (GK) - Elias Medina

  • Helped Denmark control possession in build-up. Understanding of body shape, passing angles and pass detail

  • 81:15: Showed composure with his feet to deal calmly with a bouncing back pass under pressure, feinting to clear long before passing sideways and short to supporting CB

  #2 (RB) - David Stojanovic

  • Provided width on RW in both build-up and final 3rd

  • Continuously up and down, covering significant ground to provide constant support option wide or beyond

  • 40:30: Beat opponent with stepovers before cutting inside and delivering a left-footed cross / pass into the box which created a goalscoring opportunity for #18 (slightly fortunate with cross quality)

  • HT: Switched from RB to LB which changed his attacking role and therefore involvements (became more of a support option on LW)

  • 59:10: Defended far-post at a cross: positioned himself inside the far-post, used body effectively (despite height advantage for the attacker) to make header difficult

• #12 (RCB) - Noah Madsen

  • Helped Denmark control possession in build-up. Understanding of body shape, passing angles and pass detail

  • HT: Moved from RCB to RB

  • 57:16: Won possession during high press, found #19 following regain, all which led to Denmark's third goal

  • 63:10: Overlapping run and delivered a low cross into the box which won a corner

• #4 (LCB) - Felix Sommer

  • Helped Denmark control possession in build-up. Understanding of body shape, passing angles and pass detail

  • More progressive and involved CB in build-up

  • 16:10: Initial mis-control but recovered very well to defend the situation. Matched attacker for pace and physicality before getting his body in front to gain control of the ball

• #5 (LB) - Xander Poulsen

  • 1st Half: Provided deeper support from LB to recycle possession and offer additional coverage in defensive transitions

  • HT: Subbed off

• #6 (DM) - Marvin Nasnas 

  • Standout performance

  • Controlled the tempo throughout

  • Dictated Denmark's build-up play

  • Excellent passing range - comfortable playing short link passes, delayed passes, punch passes, switches of play and clipped passes - and consistently selects the appropriate pass

  • Supported play across every possession phase

  • Comfortable receiving under pressure

  • Intelligent positioning to create space for himself or teammates to receive

  • Defensive contribution to regain possession

  • Notable involvements:

    • 14:50: Moving backwards, plays an excellent left-footed line-breaking pass into #9

    • 15:45: Demonstrates an impressive passing range and good combinations with teammates

    • Opening Half Hour: Outstanding influence on Denmark's possession play. Controls the tempo and dictates build-up

    • 29:40: Good link play before another line-breaking pass

    • 30:20: Repeatedly punches passes through Italy's midfield lines

    • 31:58: Receives under minimal pressure in front of midfield. Plays a line-breaking pass into #9. Continues to support with a forward run after releasing the ball. Comfortable operating both inside and in front of Italy's midfield block

    • 32:25: Intelligent movement to receive on the half-turn. Attempts a 'Pedri-esque' clipped pass over the Italy backline to get teammate in behind

    • 43:05: Heavily involved throughout another impressive possession sequence before he switches play intelligently to the left side

    • 72:00: Uses his body well to intercept and regain possession

    • 73:10: Excellent support movement. Receives inside block under pressure. Quick feet, close control and composure to evade pressure. Plays a reverse line-breaking pass into a pocket player

• #8 (RCM) - Frederik Vestergaard

  • Opening 15 Minutes

  • One of Denmark's key controllers in possession

  • First Half: Effective in possession throughout

  • 63:10:

  • Excellent movement to receive from the goalkeeper

  • Scans before receiving

  • Excellent first touch and body movement

  • Evades pressure

  • Powerful progressive carry into the final third

  • Finds the overlapping #12 who wins a corner

  • 71:00: Fires a firm forward pass into #9's feet to create an attacking opportunity

  • After 71:00: Subbed off. Tactical reshuffle sees #20 move into left central midfield and #17 into right central midfield

• #18 (LCM) - Mads Jørgensen

  • Opening 15 Minutes: Helps control possession alongside #6 and #8

  • 26:00: Drops into the double pivot during Denmark's midfield rotation

  • 40:30: Excellent control from #2's cross inside box. Lifts his effort over the advancing goalkeeper. 

  • First Half: Regularly finds central pockets. Provides an effective link between midfield and attack

  • Half-time: Subbed off for #10

• #19 (RW) - Noah Manata

  • Opening 15 Minutes: Frequently moves inside into central pockets

  • 43:05: Continues drifting inside to receive between the lines. Provides another effective option during Denmark's possession

  • First Half: Consistently finds space between Italy's midfield and defence

  • 50:00: Excellent first touch in the right half-space. Evades his opponent. Wins the foul.Draws a yellow card for Italy #16

  • 57:16: Receives from #12 after the high regain. Provides the assist for #20's goal

  • 62:00: Subbed off for #11

• #20 (LW) - Tobias Baden Ekstrand

  • 19:05: Cuts inside from the left. Shoots after Denmark break Italy's press. A better central passing option appeared available

  • First Half: Holds width before driving inside. Provides balance on the left side

  • 57:16: Occupies a narrow position after Denmark's regain. Receives from #19. Finishes confidently across the goalkeeper to make it 3–2. The shot appears to go through the goalkeeper's hands

  • 81:00: Subbed off for #14

• #9 (CF) - Mikkel Bro Hansen (C)

  • 13:20: Scores Denmark's opening goal from close range following a well-worked short-corner routine

  • 14:50: Receives #6's excellent line-breaking pass

  • 31:58: Drops intelligently into the pocket. Receives before playing the ball wide

  • 43:05: Immediately presses the centre-back after Italy's long goal kick. Wins a corner through his pressing

  • First Half

  • Leads the line effectively

  • Drops into midfield pockets intelligently

  • Provides a consistent central reference

  • 71:00

  • Excellent initial close control from #8's forward pass

  • Chooses to shoot rather than play the overlapping #12

  • Effort goes high and wide

  • The overlapping pass appeared to be the better option

  • Appears strongly right-footed

• Substitutions:

  • #3: On for #5 at HT

    • Half-time: Subbed on for #5 / Moves into right centre-back

    • 65:00: Excellent recovery defending to stay with the runner. Forces Italy #21 to settle for a throw-in despite the attacker initially gaining an advantage

    • 90:20: Receives from the goalkeeper after pulling into the right-back area. Carries possession confidently from deep into the final third. Delivers the initial cross that begins Denmark's equalising attack

  • #10: On for #18 at HT

    • Half-time: Subbed on for #18

    • 90:20: Stood up cross to far-post for #11's equalising header

    • Advanced midfielder / 10 type. Pockets player. Close control.

  • #11: On for #19 at 62 mins 

    • 62:00: Subbed on for #19

    • 90:20: 3-3 goal. Far-post header. Headed back across goal from close range

  • #14: On for #20 at 81 mins 

  • #15: On for #12 at 89 mins