Debut joy for Conor and Jack
Both Conor Coady and Jack Grealish made their England senior debuts in Copenhagen and both spoke of their pride after the game
Preview
After making his England senior debut in the game and helping the Three Lions to keep a clean sheet, Conor Coady was a proud man in Copenhagen.
The Wolves man said: “I’m immensely proud. It’s incredible to play with this group of players. There’s some world-class players in this team. There’s immense pride there to play for my country.
“I’m here to help these players and this team. My main goal, I don’t really care about my own performance, is that we do well as a team.
Another of the evening's debutants was Jack Grealish, with the Aston Villa man introduced as a second-half substitute.
“I was actually a bit emotional," he revealed.
"It’s something you dream of, every child in England dreams of playing for England.
“I felt so privileged coming on, it was a shame we couldn’t get the win in the end.
"It’s a brilliant day for myself, one of the best of my career so far.
“I’ve enjoyed every single minute [in training]. Everyone has made me feel welcome here, the staff and players.”
Previews
The Three Lions land in Copenhagen after opening their new campaign with a 1-0 win over Iceland in Reykjavik at the weekend.
But for Denmark, there was a 2-0 home defeat against Belgium in their first game so they will be looking to get their campaign kick-started with a second match at Parken Stadium in the space of three days.
England will be without Kyle Walker for the game, with the Manchester City defender suspended for one match following his sending off for two cautions on Saturday while both Mason Greenwood and Phil Foden are out of contention for the game.
Ironically, England were due to face Denmark at Wembley in March in a warm-up game ahead of UEFA EURO 2020, before the COVID-19 outbreak forced all matches to be postponed.
Before that, the last meeting between the teams came at Wembley in March 2014 when it took a late goal from Daniel Sturridge (pictured below) to settle the game in England's favour in what was a friendly game in the build-up to the FIFA World Cup in Brazil later that year.
Just over three years before that, England made the trip to Parken for a friendly, with Fabio Capello's team edging that game by 2-1. After initially falling behind to Daniel Agger's early goal, Darren Bent scored a quickfire equaliser before second-half substitute Ashley Young notched a 68th minute winner.
The last competitive encounter came way back in the 2002 World Cup, when the nations met in the knockout stages and England enjoyed a comprehensive 3-0 win thanks to first-half goals from Michael Owen, Emile Heskey and an own goal from Danish keeper Thomas Sorensen.
Watch highlights of our last game at Parken back in 2011 in the video player above...
UEFA Nations League head-to-head
England held at Parken
The Three Lions couldn't find a breakthrough in Copenhagen as they were held to a draw by Denmark
Harry Kane was denied a dramatic late winner as England had to settle for a goalless draw in their UEFA Nations League encounter with Denmark.
Gareth Southgate’s side saw more of the ball in the contest but found chances hard to come by until the skipper almost won it at the death when his shot was cleared off the line by Mathias Jorgensen.
England did have to weather some promising spells from Denmark, particularly in the first half with Jordan Pickford forced into making several crucial stops to deny the hosts.
And the result leaves the Three Lions second in Group A2 on four points, ahead of a tantalising contest with Belgium at Wembley next month.
Southgate handed England debuts to Conor Coady and Kalvin Phillips as his side reverted to a three-man defence in Copenhagen but proceedings began slowly at Parken Stadium as both sides took time to find their rhythm.
The Three Lions shaded the possession and their best early moment came when a choreographed corner found Raheem Sterling free in the box only for his shot to be blocked.
But the hosts looked dangerous on the counter however and Kasper Dolberg registered the first real chance in the 18th minute when his shot narrowly went over the bar.
England, for the most part, were relatively unthreatened even if they could not create much, despite the efforts of Martin Braithwaite whose powerfully drilled shot went inches past Pickford’s left post.
And in the final seconds of the first half, Pickford made a fine save to push Dolberg’s drilled attempt in the six-yard box behind, after he was released by former Tottenham man Christian Eriksen.
After going into the break goalless, Southgate’s men started the second half with more urgency but Pickford had to be alert again to save Thomas Delaney’s fizzed shot at goal from outside the box.
But with 30 minutes remaining, England began to stretch their hosts with Kane seeing a low shot well blocked before almost breaking clear of the Danish defence.
England’s captain then headed narrowly over the bar after Kieran Trippier had found him at the back post with a well-guided cross.
Then, Raheem Sterling forced Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel to push the ball wide as Southgate’s side continued to apply the pressure.
With attack on the mind, Mason Mount and Jack Grealish,on for his England debut, were introduced but Eriksen nearly came back to haunt many of his old Spurs teammates when he scooped over from eight yards out, while Kane drilled wide with minutes to go.
And Kane came agonisingly close to a dramatic late winner in the dying seconds when he skipped past Schmeichel and shot towards an open net only for Jorgensen to slide the ball away from the line as the visitors left Denmark with a point.
England: 1 Jordan Pickford (Everton), 2 Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), 3 Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid), 4 Conor Coady (Wolverhampton Wanderers), 5 Joe Gomez (Liverpool), 6 Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), 7 Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United), 8 Declan Rice (West Ham United), 9 Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), 10 Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), 11 Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund)
Substitutes: 18 Mason Mount (Chelsea) for Sancho 60, 17 Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) for Phillips 76, 15 Ashley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal) for Alexander-Arnold 86
Substitutes not used: 12 Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), 13 Nick Pope (Burnley), 14 Michael Keane (Everton), 16 James Ward-Prowse (Southampton), 19 Tammy Abraham (Chelsea), 20 Danny Ings (Southampton), 22 Dean Henderson (Manchester United)
Matchday live
Key Man
Conor Coady
- Minutes played: 90
- Pass completion: 88%
- Tackles won: 100%