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Denmark and Slovenia made the first European draw

Former Ludogorets defender Zhan Karnicnik was the starter for Slovenia

Jun 16, 2024 21:12 66

 Denmark and Slovenia made the first European draw - 1

Denmark and Slovenia ended in a 1:1 draw in a match of the first round in group "C" of the European Football Championship. Former defender of Ludogorets Zhan Karnicnik, who was transferred to the team of Cele in December last year, was the starter in the Slovenia team. For the Slovenians, the last control before Euro 2024 was against Bulgaria in Ljubljana, and the match ended with a 1:1.

The Danes started the match in Stuttgart actively and in the 11th minute Andreas Christensen intercepted the ball after a cross, but sent the ball over the opponent's goal with his head. The team of Slovenia missed a good opportunity to convert in the 16th minute after Benjamin Seško received a comfortable pass and shot from a long distance, but it was off target.

Denmark took a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute through Christian Eriksen. Jonas Wind assisted the goal with an excellent pass to Eriksen in the box and he scored from close range, sending the ball into the bottom left corner of the Slovenian goal. For Christian Eriksen, the goal in his first game at Euro 2024 came three years after he suffered a cardiac arrest at the previous edition of the tournament in 2021.

Christian Eriksen missed two more opportunities for the Danes in the 40th and 43rd minutes, first heading the ball over Slovenia's goal, then he was brought up well and shot, but again inaccurate.

In the 52nd minute, the Slovenian footballers had claims for a penalty after Sporar fell in Denmark's penalty area, but referee Sandro Scherer did not award one. The situation was checked with the video arbitration system - VAR, but Scherer's decision was confirmed.

Rasmus Hoylund came close to a second goal for the Danes in the 65th minute, but goalkeeper Jan Oblak produced a superb save, and two minutes later Slovenia wasted an opportunity to equalize as Adam Gnezda-Cerin struck a fine shot with head, but to the right of Denmark's door.

Between the 75th and 76th, the Slovenians missed two more chances. First, Andraj Sporar missed from close range, and a little later Benjamin Seško hit the post.

The Slovenian side did manage to equalize in the 77th minute when Erik Janja beat Schmeichel with a pinpoint shot to make it 1-1. Sporar could have made the score 2:1 in favor of the Slovenians, but he shot over the goal in the 79th minute, and three later wasted another opportunity for a second goal.