Russia v Denmark betting tips: Danes fired up for Group B finale
Preview and odds for the Group B match
Russia may be listed as the home team for their final Euro 2020 group game but Denmark will have the support of most of the Copenhagen crowd and neutrals watching around Europe as they look to qualify for the last 16.
The Danes have lost their opening two games, which is hardly surprising given what happened to Christian Eriksen, but victory in their final match could see them reach the last 16.
Monday’s match is live on BBC Two and kicks off at 8pm as we highlight a few potential Russia v Denmark betting tips.
Russia v Denmark match odds
Denmark lost 1-0 to Finland in their opening match which arguably should not have taken place following the collapse of Eriksen and few would begrudge them victory here.
A win is vital if they are to have any hope of going through, having lost 2-1 to Belgium despite taking the lead through Yussuf Poulsen in only the second minute.
Jason Denayer’s careless pass out of defence was picked off by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and when he fed Poulsen, the striker smashed a low shot across keeper Thibaut Courtois and inside the far post.
The Danes are obviously without their star man, though, while Belgium were able to bring Kevin De Bruyne off the bench at half-time and the Manchester City man made one assist before scoring the winner.
The performance was encouraging at least and Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand said: “We’re going to stick together and we’re going to beat the Russians. We’re not done in this competition.”
Denmark are certainly not lacking in motivation heading into this game and are 8/11 to prove Hjulmand right while Russia are 21/5 for back-to-back wins after a 1-0 victory over Finland put them second in the group.
A draw can be backed at 11/4 and will be enough for Russia to clinch second place assuming Finland lose to Belgium in the other Group B game.
The clean sheet against Finland ended a run of six competitive matches in which Russia had conceded and their recent defensive record certainly gives Denmark hope even without Eriksen.
Over 2.5 goals is available at 10/11 while Denmark are 17/4 to make a flying start again and be leading after 15 minutes.
Russia v Denmark head-to-head
This is only the second meeting between the two countries since the break-up of the Soviet Union.
The previous encounter was a friendly in Copenhagen in 2012 when a Russian team managed by Dick Advocaat claimed a 2-0 win thanks to first-half goals from Roman Shirokov and Andrey Arshavin.
Previous XI
Russia: Safonov, Fernandes, Diveev, Dzhikiya, Ozdoev, Barinov, Zobnin, Golovin, Kuzyaev, Miranchuk, Dzyuba.
Denmark: Schmeichel, Vestergaard, Kjaer, Maehle, Christensen, Delaney, Damsgaard, Wass, Hojbjerg, Braithwaite, Poulsen.
Key battles
Poulsen’s early goal against Belgium at least proved Denmark can score without Eriksen and the RB Leipzig man is 2/1 to be on target again.
Barcelona forward Martin Braithwaite is an option to score first at 5/1 having almost rescued a point three minutes from time but his header from substitute Andreas Skov Olsen’s cross clipped the crossbar.
This would be a good time for Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel to keep his first clean sheet of the tournament, with Russia striker Artem Dzyuba the most likely to beat him at 23/10 in the anytime goalscorer odds.
View the latest Euro 2020 odds
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
