translated from Spanish: De Bruyne led Belgium to a 2-1 win over Denmark

Two plays by Kevin de Bruyne, who was making his European Championship debut, were enough for Belgium to beat (1-2) a touching Denmark, which remade itself from the drama experienced five days ago by the collapse of Eriksen.Belgium was more effective and reversed a bad first half to come back, achieve its second victory and leave the pass to eighth. Denmark, which deserved the victory on Thursday but has not yet added, is only worth beating Russia and waiting for Finland not to score against the Belgians. The match started with surprises from the locker room. Kasper Hjulmand opted to change the system and play with three centre-backs, putting the very young Damsgaard playing Eriksen and with Braithwaite and Poulsen on point. In Belgium there was speculation about the ownership of Witsel and Eden Hazard, but in the end Roberto Martinez kept almost the same eleven that thrashed Russia, with the forced loss of Castagne, operated on six fractures to the face by a fortuitous blow, and the change of Boyata. Denayer and Meunier took their seats. There were many doubts about the mood of the Danish players before the match. But who seemed most affected by the atmosphere was strangely Belgium, who did not give a right in the opening stretch, with infrequent errors in the exit of the ball, unable at times to overcome the overwhelming Danish pressure. Denmark was a gale. He ate Belgium in the first few minutes, when he came in from all sides. On a rude error by Denayer, Højbjerg recovered, passed to Poulsen, and he crossed. Not even two minutes had passed. Maehle, a dagger from the left, had the second, also Wass on a header. Braithwaite and Poulsen drove the Belgians crazy with their continuous desmarques into space, while the very young Damsgaard, whom Hjulmand trained in the Danish Nordsjælland, was not burdened with responsibility. The Sampdoria player was one of the best in his team in a great first half. Safe in the touch, well in the distribution, he touched the goal in individual play with a shot that came out grazing the stick. By then Belgium had balanced the game a bit. At least he had more of the ball, but barring a header from Mertens at the start, there was no news of him in the Danish area. Kjær cancelled out a desperate Lukaku, who did not get balls in conditions. Martinez took Mertens off the field at half-time and brought in De Bruyne, who was returning to the pitch three weeks after suffering a double fracture to his face in the Champions League final.The premier league’s best player this year went on to play as a false nine, with Lukaku and Carrasco on the sidelines. Denmark were still scared, though less so, as in a deflected shot from Delaney or a great move from Damsgaard, dribbling off several Belgian players on the edge of the area. But Belgium doesn’t need much to score. On his first approach, Lukaku pulled power and took the ball in front of Vestergaard, rebound included. Kjær, imposing until then, slipped and left open a motorway that De Bruyne knew how to take advantage of to give the goal almost empty door to Torghan Hazard.Belgium smelled blood. Witsel and Eden Hazard came out on the pitch. Denmark was in doubt and went on to play with Braithwaite as the only clear point and Damsgaard doing more of a hook. And de Bruyne appeared soon after to culminate with a whiplash from outside the area a great Belgian combination, a pass from Eden Hazard, which left some details. Denmark played it desperately, with the appeal of the giganton Cornelius and later putting the winger Skov Olsen for a centre-back. Braithwaite, tireless all game, launched a dunk after several breaks, which forced Courtois to pull out a great hand and deflect into the corner. Belgium threatened to close out the match on each counter. De Bruyne had it again. Already with little strength and without too many ideas, Denmark pulled the heroics, but Braithwaite’s header went to the crossbar. And a shot from Jensen, low narrowly. Against Finland, Belgium will be able to further fine-tune its set-up for the crosses. The Danes, who seem recovered from the loss of their star, who is still convalescing in a hospital, have one more night left to dream, in Parken, against Russia.Fact sheet:1 – Denmark: Schmeichel; Kjær, Christensen, Vestergaard (Skov Olsen, m.84); Wass (Stryger Larsen, m.62), Delaney (Jensen, m.72), Damsgaard (Cornelius, m.72), Højbjerg, Maehle; Poulsen (Nørgaard, m.62), Braithwaite.2 – Belgium: Courtois; Alderweireld, Denayer, Vertonghen, Meunier; Tielemans, Dendoncker (Witsel, m.59), Torghan Hazard (Vermaelen, m.90); Mertens (De Bruyne, m.46), Lukaku, Carrasco (Eden Hazard, m.59). Goals: 1-0, m. 2: Poulsen; 1-1, m.55: Torghan Hazard; 1-2, m.70: De Bruyne.Referee: Björn Kuipers (NED). He was yellow carded, for Denmark, to Kjær (m.58), Damsgaard (m.69) and Jensen (m.81); by Belgium, to T. Hazard (m.90).

Original source in Spanish