UEFA Euro 2020 Group B Matchday 1 preview: Denmark vs. Finland (Sat - 18:00h. CEST; 17:00h. BST)
Home advantage may be a factor as Denmark welcome Finland: the Danes have not lost in 21 home games against the Finns since 1949 (W18 D3) and have a right to feel confident as they embark on their ninth EURO campaign. For first-timers Finland, this is all new, but whatever odds are stacked against them, Markku Kanerva's side know that no EURO team is unbeatable.
Possible line-ups
Denmark: Schmeichel; Mæhle, Kjær, Christensen, Wass; Eriksen, Højbjerg, Delaney; Poulsen, Wind, Braithwaite
Finland: Hradecky; O'Shaughnessy, Arajuuri, Toivio; Uronen, Kamara, Sparv, Lod, Raitala; Pukki, Pohjanpalo
Reporters' views
Sture Sandø, Denmark reporter: In the most anticipated national team game in years, Denmark are hosting their first final tournament match, with fans back at Parken Stadium for the first time since 2019. The whole country expects the hosts to win, and the players must be well aware of that. A good start and three points are crucial against Finland, who are expected to be one of the weaker teams in the group.
Mikael Erävuori, Finland reporter: Finland have been all smiles in the sunshine in Repino, near Saint Petersburg, as they prepare for their first ever EURO finals match. However, for all the good vibes in training and press conferences, you can sense the tension – and it is hardly surprising. Facing Denmark in Copenhagen is a tough test: expect Kanerva to field his most experienced players.
What the coaches say
Kasper Hjulmand, Denmark coach: "We shouldn’t go out and lose a match because we’re not well enough prepared. We shouldn’t lose because we didn’t want it more than our opponents. And we shouldn’t lose because we don’t play our best. We must leave everything on the pitch and do everything we can to win."
Markku Kanerva, Finland coach: "Denmark have a very good team. If we look at their last few matches, they've had some magnificent results and have scored a lot of goals. Their defence has worked and they have some great individual players. Denmark are a really tough team and they get to play on home soil, but we have proved we can challenge even bigger countries than Denmark."
Form guide (all competitions, most recent first)
Denmark: WDWWWL
Finland: LLLDDL
Next up
Finland vs Russia – Wednesday 16 June, St Petersburg
Denmark vs Belgium – Thursday 17 June, Copenhagen
Source: UEFA