Slovenia vs Denmark LIVE!

Christian Eriksen marked a dream return to Euros action with a goal, 1,100 days after his last game ended with an on-field cardiac arrest, but his heroics could not prevent Slovenia from pegging Denmark back in the Group C opener.

The Manchester United midfielder chested down and volley home a stunning opener in a 1-1 draw in Stuttgart on Sunday. Denmark looked in firm control for most of the game, with Eriksen at the heart of everything, but were ultimately punished for not making the most of their dominance.

Erik Janza equalized for Slovenia in the 77th minute, hitting a half-volley from the edge the area which took a big deflection to wrong-foot Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. Read the game back below with our dedicated match blog!

Slovenia vs Denmark latest updates

• GOAL! Janza with a rocket to equalise

• GOAL! Eriksen opens the scoring with a stunner

Full-time!

18:52 , Alex Young

95min: The spoils are shared in Stuttgart! Slovenia are celebrating that like a victory, high-fives in the dugout.

18:51 , Alex Young

94min: Slovenia now the team playing for time.

18:48 , Alex Young

91min: Four minutes added on. Denmark had this in their hands, their fans look stunned.

18:46 , Alex Young

89min: Delaney replaces Hjulmann. Last roll of the dice.

18:44 , Alex Young

86min: Hjulmann tries his luck from the edge of the area, but it’s easy for Oblak.

18:41 , Alex Young

83min: And now Norgaard on for Hojbjerg.

18:40 , Alex Young

82min: Poulsen and Dolberg are on, Hojlund and Wind make way.

18:39 , Alex Young

80min: Denmark replace Christensen with Maehle.

18:36 , Alex Young

78min: This is a great result for England, of course, should the score stays the same.

GOAL!

18:35 , Alex Young

77min: There it is! Janza with a rocket from the 25 yards after the ball falls to him after a corner.

A big deflection, but he won’t care!

WOODWORK!

18:34 , Alex Young

76min: Just like his chance in the first half, out of nothing Sesko clatters the post!

So unluckly. It was another rocket!

18:32 , Alex Young

75min: Slovenia almost made me eat my words immediately! A superb, whipped delivery from a free kick is straight onto the boot of Sporar... who sends it wide from six yards.

A sitter.

18:31 , Alex Young

73min: The pace of the game has really slowed, which is further bad news for Slovenia. Denmark in firm control.

18:28 , Alex Young

70min: Slovenia win a free kick around 40 yards out, but instead of punting it into the box they instead play it back and then wide and then into the area, by which team Denmark easily crowd them out.

18:24 , Alex Young

67min: Incredible chance for Slovenia!

Cerin isn’t tracked running through the middle, climbs highest but arrows his header wide.

18:23 , Alex Young

66min: Oblak will be fine to continue, just winded himself making that point-blank save from Hojlund.

18:22 , Alex Young

65min: Two big chance sin quick succession for Denmark as first Hojlund is thwarted and then Bah with the follow-up.

Oblak appears to have come off worse, too, clutching his arm.

18:16 , Alex Young

59min: Slovenia really not showing anything of note as we approach the hour mark,

18:14 , Alex Young

56min: Hojlund very much the player we see at United weekly: shows brief signs of skill but is still a very raw talent.

18:12 , Alex Young

54min: Stojanovic now booked for a rough tackle on Hojbjerg.

18:11 , Alex Young

53min: Penalty check after Stojanovic misses a headed chance after a long Slovenia throw, but it’s not given.

Not sure what the infringement was there.

18:08 , Alex Young

50min: Hjulmand gets booked for pulling down Sesko.

18:06 , Alex Young

49min: Denmark starting the half on top, just as they finished the first.

18:02 , Alex Young

47min: No changes for either team.

Second half

18:02 , Alex Young

46min: Back under way!

17:58 , Alex Young

It’s worth noting that the Eriksen goal was the only shot on target so far.

We’ve been feasting so far these Euros, you’d imagine that stat improves in the second half.

17:55 , Alex Young

Eriksen has been central to everything - absolutely everything - Denmark have done this afternoon. Such a classy player.

But the lead is still narrow. Slovenia need to change things at the break.

Half-time!

17:47 , Alex Young

47min: That’s your lot.

17:46 , Alex Young

46min: One minute added on.

17:44 , Alex Young

43min: Denmark back to confidently passing it around their midfield and defence... and eventually the ball is played to Eriksen in acres inside the area, and he blazes over!

That was a chance.

17:40 , Alex Young

40min: Janza flies in on Eriksen in the area to block another shot on goal. The Danish No10’s eyes lit up then.

17:39 , Alex Young

37min: Slovenia struggling to even make the most of their rare chances. Corners being wasted, players offside.

17:35 , Alex Young

34min: Hojlund is inches away from slotting home a second, thanks to Eriksen’s round-the-back cross. Only Bijol’s last-ditch tackle saving his side.

17:32 , Alex Young

32min: Denmark starting to turn the screw again.

17:32 , Alex Young

30min: Big, big chance for Slovenia!

Sporar beats the offside trap and then looks to take a punt forward in his stride, but the speed of the ball is a tad too much and gets away from him.

17:30 , Alex Young

29min: Eriksen takes the corner, which Vestergaard meets but his header bounces wide.

Should have done better.

17:29 , Alex Young

28min: Almost a second from Denmark after Eriksen’s cross hits Sesko, then hits Mlakar and bounces inches past the post.

17:25 , Alex Young

24min: Slovenia seeing more of the ball now, with Denmark retreating somewhat after taking the lead.

17:22 , Alex Young

21min: Cerin, eventually, delivers and it’s set wide to Janza, who is easily crowded out.

17:21 , Alex Young

19min: Slovenia try to hit back immediately, winning a corner after Janza’s shot is blocked.

GOAL!

17:19 , Alex Young

17min: It had to be! Eriksen opens the scoring for his country, and it’s a beauty.

A stunning flick from Wind lets Eriksen run onto the ball, chest it down and volley into the far corner.

Easily the goal of the tournament so far.

17:17 , Alex Young

16min: Oh my, that’s why Sesko is so fancied! A thunderous effort out of nothing from 30 yards!

That had Schmeichel scrambling, but it fizzes past the post.

17:16 , Alex Young

15min: Bijol has just clattered Wind from behind to give away a clear free kick. Early frustration?

17:13 , Alex Young

12min: Those Danish fans aren’t half making a noise. Incredible support.

17:10 , Alex Young

9min: This is going to be a long game for the Slovenian defence. More Eriksen magic to scoop the ball over one and into Hojlund’s path, who holds it up and sends it wide for Wind to drill a low cross in.

Slovenia slide in and clear.

17:07 , Alex Young

7min: Superb ball over the top from Eriksen to Wind into the area, but the forward cannot get the ball out of his feet before the offside flag is raised.

17:06 , Alex Young

5min: Slovenia still chasing shadows. Genuinely could be 99 per cent possession in their favour.

17:04 , Alex Young

3min: Denmark just pinging the ball around with ease, Slovenia chasing shadows until a late foot in on Hojlund pauses play.

Kick-off!

17:01 , Alex Young

1min: Here we go! Up and running in Group C!

16:56 , Alex Young

The teams are out, the national anthems are getting bellowed. Minutes away.

Not long now

16:49 , Alex Young

Kick-off is just 10 minutes away.

Denmark highlight Sesko threat

16:41 , Alex Young

Denmark are confident they are favourites to beat Slovenia today but remain wary of the threat of Benjamin Sesko.

"In this game we are favourites but we have a lot of respect for Slovenia and they have shown great results, especially against Portugal (2-0 friendly win in March) and we have to do our very best if we want to play our game," manager Kasper Hjulmand said.

"Sesko is very fast and he has a great left foot and is a player we know and a player we've analysed a lot because he's significant for Slovenia.

"Sesko is a big star and a young attacker but we are ready for him. I'm happy that we played friendly games (before the tournament) because we played against players that reminded us of him."

'We've been waiting too long'

16:32 , Alex Young

Slovenia, who have never beaten Denmark in their six meetings, have reached just their second European Championship and their first since 2000, when they finished bottom of their group with two draws and a loss.

Midfielder Timi Elsnik said: "We have been waiting too long.

"We have reached our goal by coming here, but this is not the end. The best teams in Europe play in this competition and we are among them.

"This shouldn't be a burden to us, we shouldn't feel too much pressure. Everyone will give their utmost, but we shouldn't forget to enjoy these moments."

Team news

16:16 , Alex Young

So, as expected, Benjamin Sesko starts up front for Slovenia. After much transfer talk surrounding the striker, he smartly put all that to bed before the tournament by signing a new contract with RB Leipzig.

Still, there will be plenty of eyes on him today - will be live up to the hype?

All the big names start for Denmark, which includes Manchester United pair Christian Eriksen and Rasmus Hojlund.

Tottenham's Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is in the centre, and former Premier League players Kasper Schmeichel and Andreas Christensen in goal and defence respectively.

Slovenia team news in full

16:03 , Alex Young

Slovenia XI: Oblak; Karnicnik, Drkusic, Bijol, Janza; Stojanovic, Cerin, Elsnik, Mlakar; Sporar, Sesko

Subs: Belec, Vekic, Balkovec, Blazic, G. Stankovic, Verbic, Lovric, Kurtic, Horvat, Vipotnik, Celar, Brekalo, Zugelj, Zeljkovic, Ilicic

Slovenia XI

16:00 , Alex Young

...and here is Slovenia!

Denmark team in full

15:57 , Alex Young

Denmark XI: Schmeichel; Andersen, Christensen, Vestergaard; Kristiansen, Hjulmand, Eriksen, Hojbjerg, Bah; Hojlund, Wind

Subs: Hermansen, Ronnow, Kjaer, Maehle, Jensen, Delaney, Skov Olsen, Dolberg, Jorgensen, Damsgaard, Norgaard, Poulsen, Dreyer, Kristensen, Bruun Larsen

Denmark XI

15:46 , Alex Young

They do! Here’s the Denmark team.

15:39 , Alex Young

Team news should be too far away. Will Manchester United’s double Danes get the nod?

15:33 , Alex Young

The atmosphere is building in Stuttgart. One fans looks less nervous than the other.

Former Denmark international Thomas Sorensen

15:29 , Alex Young

“In the first game of any major tournament you just need to make sure you don’t lose, Denmark had Slovenia in qualifying and drew 1-1 away and won 2-1 at home,” he told OLBG.

“They should be the better side and have more quality but they have some dynamic players and a star player in their goalkeeper, Jan Oblak.

“It's going to be a tough one but I think Denmark will just shade it. I'll be happy with a 1-0 to open up and get the three points.”

Former Slovenia international Robert Koren prediction

15:23 , Alex Young

“It's really important that we get a good result. It always gives you some extra energy for the next games. And I would love to see our team win,” he told OLBG.

“I would say Slovenia will beat Denmark 2-1.”

Latest odds

15:15 , Alex Young

The bookies appear to agree with our prediction.

• Slovenia: 9/2

• Draw: 21/10

• Denmark: 4/7

(Odds via Betfair.)

Score prediction

15:07 , Alex Young

Slovenia have clear quality at both ends of the pitch, with Oblak and Sesko, but it is in the middle of the pitch where this game will be won.

Denmark look too good to slip up here despite their World Cup struggles.

Denmark to win, 2-1.

Predicted lineups

14:57 , Alex Young

Predicted Slovenia XI: Oblak; Karnicnik, Brekalo, Bijol, Janza; Horvat, Elsnik, Gnezda Cerin, Mlakar; Sporar, Sesko

Predicted Denmark XI: Schmeichel; Andersen, Christensen, Vestergaard; Kristiansen, Hjulmand, Eriksen, Hojbjerg, Bah; Hojlund, Wind

Denmark team news

14:57 , Alex Young

Barcelona defender Andreas Christensen and Benfica's Alexander Bah have both recovered from injuries to make the Danish squad.

Simon Kjaer will captain the team but his minutes will be managed.

Christian Eriksen should start, his first Euros game since suffering a cardiac arrest against Finland three years ago, and Manchester United team-mate Rasmus Hojlund will lead the line.

Slovenia team news

14:57 , Alex Young

Josip Ilicic has been named in the Slovenia squad for the first time since 2021 after struggling with mental health issues.

Atletico Madrid legend Jan Oblak captains the team, and he’s widely considered to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world still.

There are injury doubts over midfielders Benjamin Verbic and Sandi Lovric plus defenders Peta Stojanovic and Miha Blazic.

All eyes, as mentioned, on Benjamin Sesko.

Where to watch Slovenia vs Denmark

14:36 , Alex Young

TV channel: Today’s clash will be broadcast live and free-to-air in the UK on ITV1. Coverage starts at 4:10pm BST ahead of a 5pm kick-off.

Live stream: ITVX will provide a free live stream online for fans via its website and app.

Welcome

14:28 , Alex Young

Good afternoon and welcome to the Evening Standard’s LIVE coverage of the Euro 2024 clash between Slovenia and Denmark.

It’s the first game of Group C, which also includes England and Serbia - who face off hours later at 8pm this evening.

There will be plenty of eyes on Slovenia frontman Benjamin Sesko, a big transfer target this summer before he signed a new contract with RB Leipzig, who will be aiming to fire his nation to their first ever win at a Euros.

Denmark, meanwhile, reached the semi-finals three years ago but struggled at the World Cup 18 months ago. Which version will show up this summer?

Kick-off is at 5pm BST. Stick with us.