Motivated Denmark 'hurt' by England semi-final defeat ahead of Euro 2024 clash

Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand admits he is still driven by defeat to England in the semi-final of Euro 2020 - but insists the penalty controversy that cost his side at Wembley does not provide extra fuel.

England face Denmark in Thursday’s Group C clash in Frankfurt, three years on from their last major tournament meeting.

On that occasion, the Three Lions came from a goal down to win 2-1 in extra-time and reach their first ever European Championship final, but the Danes were left furious with the award of the penalty that led to the decisive goal.

Raheem Sterling was accused of diving under the challenge of Joakim Maehle and while Kasper Schmeichel saved Harry Kane’s initial spot-kick, the England captain swept home the rebound.

“I’m not really looking into that,” Hjulmand said, when asked about the incident at the Deutsche-Bank Arena on Wednesday. “We’re looking at a football match out of the front window. We have a great team in front of us. I’m not using that as anything, maybe some of the players, I don’t know. But I’m looking at it as a new football game.

“Maybe some of the players can find something in that, I think we’re very different as people. For me, it’s all about a new game and trying to win it with the players we have in front of us.”

Denmark famously won the 1992 European Championship when being invited into the tournament at the 11th hour after Yugoslavia were banned.

In 2021, they also came close to another fairytale triumph, riding a wave of emotion after Christian Eriksen’s horrific collapse to reach the last-four, before coming unstuck against England.

"Losing a semi-final when we were so close & it was minor details that decided it, it took me a while to digest it,” Hjulmand said. "I carried it for a while. That kind of game also gives you motivation. They inspire you and make you realise you can actually do it.

"If we really go for it and strive for a win, it motivates us. Those kinds of defeats make us learn and grow. So yeah it hurt but it motivated us."