Wembley Stadium plays host to what ought to be a pulsating Euro 2020 semi-final encounter on Wednesday, as England welcome Scandinavian surprise package Denmark to the capital for a place in this summer's final.

The Three Lions thrashed Ukraine 4-0 to make the final four, while Denmark scraped past the Czech Republic 2-1 in the quarters, and Italy will await the victors in the showpiece event on July 11.

Match preview

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Gareth Southgate's England have inspired a nation. Twenty-five years on from his Euro 96 penalty miss that he is surely sick and tired of hearing about, the 50-year-old has guided the Three Lions to back-to-back semi-final appearances at a major tournament having come so close yet so far in Russia 2018.

Having passed their toughest test against Germany with flying colours, England travelled away from their Wembley headquarters to take on a Ukraine side who were highly fortunate to even be in the knockout rounds to begin with, but not even the most ardent supporters could have envisaged the Three Lions' dominance in Rome.

After Harry Kane took all of four minutes to break the deadlock, England's wise young heads would net a flurry of second-half goals as Kane, Harry Maguire and first-time international goalscorer Jordan Henderson rose highest to put the game to bed with just over an hour played.

Jubilant scenes back home - coupled with endless renditions of Baddiel and Skinner - both demonstrated the pride of England supporters for their team as well as a much-needed release following the events of the last 18 months. However, the Three Lions' job is far from over, and Southgate will know that better than anyone.

Having now gone seven games across all competitions without conceding a goal, a first-ever appearance at a Euros final will be England's should their staunch defence produce the goods once more, and no team in history has navigated a Euros or World Cup campaign with six clean sheets to their name.

Southgate's struggles to get the best out of a bright attacking contingent have been well-documented, but England's thrashing of Ukraine also represented their biggest-ever margin of victory in a major tournament knockout match, which is just what the doctor ordered before their Nordic neighbours seek to spring another surprise.

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What started out as a horror show has since become the stuff of dreams for Denmark, who are doing Christian Eriksen proud every step of the way. One can only imagine the beaming smile on the Inter Milan playmaker's face as he witnesses his team try to make history, although there is no denying that his teammates would desperately love for him to still be on the pitch with them.

Nevertheless, Kasper Hjulmand's side have coped far better than anyone could have imagined after witnessing the harrowing scenes that they did on the opening matchday, and they followed up their thrashing of Wales in the last 16 with a 2-1 success over the Czechs in the last eight.

Thomas Delaney's header preceded a Kasper Dolberg finish which came via the assist of the tournament from Joakim Maehle, and even though the Czech Republic's main man Patrik Schick pulled one back within four minutes of the restart, the Danes pulled through to advance to the semis for the first time since 1992.

Of course, the last time that Denmark made it this far culminated in a fairytale ending during Euro 92 - their first and only triumph at the continental championships to date - and Hjulmand's in-form attacking contingent have already notched up the most goals that their country has ever scored in a single major tournament (11).

Whichever team progresses to the final over the course of the full 90, 120 or a penalty shootout will be rewarded with a final appearance versus Italy following their dramatic win from 12 yards over Spain, but as we have learned over the course of all major tournaments, form goes out of the window at this incredibly late stage.

A penalty from none other than Eriksen propelled Denmark to victory over England in last year's Nations League, and the Scandinavian side also managed to hold Southgate's men to a goalless draw before that, meaning that we have a truly tantalising battle on our hands in front of a 60,000-strong Wembley crowd.

Team News

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Southgate has never been one to stick with the same winning formula throughout the tournament, but heavy chopping and changing is unlikely to occur this time around as the England coach prepares to field a highly effective 4-2-3-1 once more.

Jadon Sancho caught the eye during his first start against Ukraine, but Bukayo Saka is expected to shake off a knock in time for this fixture and may be preferred on the right given his attacking and defensive capabilities.

Maguire, Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips all managed to avoid a booking which would have ruled them out of this game against Ukraine, meaning that Henderson may be kept waiting for a start despite marking his 62nd cap with a first-ever England goal in the quarter-final.

Aside from the recovering Eriksen, Denmark are also well-stocked for the semi-final, although Yussuf Poulsen was only fit enough to make an appearance from the bench against the Czechs and will struggle to displace the in-form Dolberg.

Daniel Wass should be fit enough to compete for a start on the right, but Jens Stryger Larsen provided the assist for Delaney's opener in the quarters and will not be prepared to cede his place at Wembley.

Captain Simon Kjaer has overcome his own fitness concerns and is ready to lead his side out in the English capital, and it would not be a surprise to see Hjulmand name an unchanged XI for Wednesday's encounter.

England possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Phillips; Saka, Mount, Sterling; Kane

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

We say: England 2-1 Denmark (a.e.t)

Underestimating a nation of Denmark's calibre would almost certainly prove fatal for England, who must prepare for a gruelling evening of football against a side daring to dream just as much as they are.

While we anticipate Southgate's staunch defence finally being breached at Euro 2020 - as well as the Danes having enough energy in the tank to take the game to extra time - England's attacking options off the bench ought to see them get over the line and bring football that one step closer to home.

Written by
Ben Knapton

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