Czech Republic and Denmark will lock horns at the European Championship in Baku on Saturday evening, with a spot in the semi-finals of this summer's competition on offer for both sides.

Denmark progressed to the quarter-finals courtesy of an impressive 4-0 victory over Wales, while the Czech Republic recorded a 2-0 win against the Netherlands to advance to the final eight of Euro 2020.

Match preview

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Czech Republic made a solid start to their Group D campaign, recording a 2-0 win over Scotland on June 14, before picking up a point against Croatia four days later to leave them in a strong position in the section.

Jaroslav Silhavy's side lost 1-0 to England in their final group match on June 22, though, which actually saw them drop down to third behind Croatia, with the Netherlands their opponents in the round of 16.

Holland would have been in a confident mood heading into the clash in Budapest, but an excellent performance from the Czech Republic saw them progress, with Tomas Holes scoring in the 68th minute before Patrik Schick came up with his fourth goal at this summer's tournament to all but secure the victory.

The Czechs have previous in this competition, finishing as runners-up in 1996 and also reaching the semi-finals in 2004, but they were eliminated in the group stage of Euro 2016.

Czech Republic, who would take on England or Ukraine in the semi-finals next week if they were to emerge victorious on Saturday, have only lost two of their previous 25 matches with Denmark, although five of the last six fixtures between the two national teams have finished all square.

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Denmark, meanwhile, booked their spot in the last-16 stage of Euro 2020 by finishing second behind Belgium in Group B despite losing two of their three matches in the section.

The Danes lost their opener 1-0 to Finland on June 12, but it was an incredibly difficult match for Kasper Hjulmand's side, having seen Christian Eriksen collapse on the field.

Denmark then lost their second group fixture to Belgium on June 17, which left them in a very difficult spot, but a 4-1 success over Russia four days later was enough to finish second in the section on goal difference, with Finland and Russia both exiting the competition despite also claiming three points from three matches.

Hjulmand's team were in sensational form in the round of 16, though, recording a 4-0 win over Wales in Amsterdam, with Kasper Dolberg scoring twice in what was a superb performance from a team that will certainly believe they are capable of making the final.

The Red and Whites won the European Championship in 1992, but they have not been at this stage of the competition since 2004, having been eliminated in the group stages in 2012 and actually failing to qualify for the finals in both 2008 and 2016.

Team News

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Czech Republic have Jan Boril available following a suspension, and it would not be a surprise to see the 30-year-old reclaim his spot in the starting side on Saturday night.

Tomas Soucek and Holes are certainties in the middle of the park, while Schick, as mentioned, has four goals at this summer's competition and will lead the line for the Czechs.

Silhavy does have decisions to make elsewhere, though, as Vladimir Darida and Jakub Jankto were named on the bench against the Netherlands, with Antonin Barak and Petr Sevcik being handed starts.

It would not be a surprise to see both Barak and Sevcik keep their spots in the starting XI due to their performances in the round of 16, with Lukas Masopust expected to feature in a wide area.

As for Denmark, head coach Hjulmand also has some big decisions to make, with Yussuf Poulsen, Daniel Wass and Simon Kjaer all expected to be available for the contest following fitness problems.

Poulsen and Wass missed the Wales clash through injury, while Kjaer had to be substituted in the second half, but the trio should be available for the quarter-final contest.

Wass and Kjaer are likely to return to the XI, but Poulsen might have to settle for a spot on the bench, as Martin Braithwaite, Dolberg and Mikkel Damsgaard impressed as the front three last time out.

There are not likely to be any surprises in the middle of the park, meanwhile, with Thomas Delaney once again set to line up alongside Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

Czech Republic possible starting lineup:
Vaclik; Coufal, Celustka, Kalas, Boril; Holes, Soucek; Masopust, Barak, Sevcik; Schick

Denmark possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Christensen, Kjaer, Vestergaard; Wass, Hojbjerg, Delaney, Maehle; Braithwaite, Dolberg, Damsgaard

We say: Czech Republic 1-2 Denmark

Denmark sneaked their way through the group stages of the competition, but they were seriously impressive against Wales in the round of 16. Czech Republic deserve huge credit for their display against the Netherlands, but we believe that the Danes will emerge victorious by the narrowest of margins to reach the final four.

Written by
Matt Law

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