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Wales vs Denmark, Euro 2020 last-16: What time is kick-off, what TV channel is it on and what is our prediction?

Wales vs Denmark, Euro 2020 last-16: What time is kick-off, what TV channel is it on and what is our prediction? - Getty Images
Wales vs Denmark, Euro 2020 last-16: What time is kick-off, what TV channel is it on and what is our prediction? - Getty Images

The European Championship knockout stages begin this weekend with Wales and Denmark meeting in Amsterdam.

Wales reached the semi-finals at Euro 2016 and are promising to make another run through the tournament after taking four points from Switzerland and Turkey in the group stage, with Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey looking back to their best.

Denmark secured qualification with a spectacular victory over Russia on an emotional night in Copenhagen, with Christian Eriksen recovering at home after suffering a cardiac arrest in their opening game against Finland.

When is it?

Wales vs Denmark is on Saturday 26 June.

What time is kick-off?

The game gets under way at 5pm BST.

What TV channel is it on?

The television schedules are yet to be finalised but there will be live coverage on BBC One or ITV1. Alternatively, you can bookmark this page and return to follow all the action on our live blog.

What is the team news?

Wales coach Robert Page will be without Ethan Ampadu through suspension after the former Chelsea man was sent off in the final group match against Italy. There are no injury concerns though, with Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey both avoiding any of the persistent problems that hampered their club seasons.

Denmark are of course with Eriksen, with 20-year-old attacking midfielder Mikkel Damsgaard impressing. Damsgaard, Mathias Jensen and Daniel Wass managed to avoid a booking against Russia which would have seen them suspended.

In the absence of Eriksen, Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand has switched to a 3-4-3 system with captain Simon Kjaer, Andreas Christensen and Jannik Vestergaard as centre-backs.

 Wales' Aaron Ramsey, left, celebrates with his teammate Gareth Bale after scoring his side's opening goal during the Euro 2020 soccer championship group A match between Turkey and Wales - AP
Wales' Aaron Ramsey, left, celebrates with his teammate Gareth Bale after scoring his side's opening goal during the Euro 2020 soccer championship group A match between Turkey and Wales - AP

Have the teams played before?

Wales and Denmark last played in the Nations League in autumn 2018 with the Danes winning home and away. This will be the first time the two nations have played in a major tournament.

What are our writers saying?

Our man Sam Dean has followed Wales at close quarters throughout the build-up to the tournament. In this piece, he reveals the secrets of the special team spirit Page has fostered:

Despite all he has achieved — and indeed earned — Bale acts no differently to any of his lesser-known team-mates. He is the squad prankster rather than prima donna, and his enthusiasm for his country has rubbed off on his team-mates. After all, if Bale can pour every ounce of energy into playing for his country, why can’t everyone else?

Oliver Brown writes that the reaction of Kjaer and Eriksen's Denmark team-mates was the highest form of team spirit and sporting comradeship:

It took mere seconds for Kjaer to suppress the shock of seeing his friend prone on the turf for him to summon the initial medical help. When the trauma of these sights eventually subside, it will be to the Milan centre-back that one of the most significant debts of gratitude is owed.

What are the odds?

  • Denmark 5/6

  • Wales 4/1

  • Draw 21/10

What is our prediction?

Wales have grown stronger after a shaky first hour of the tournament against Switzerland, and unlike several teams of their stature have bona fide attacking class in Ramsey and Bale.

Denmark have a fine collection of centre-backs though, well protected by Thomas Delaney and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, and won't be caught out by late runs from deep as Turkey were against Wales.

Add Denmark's extra motivation to honour their stricken team-mate Eriksen, and we fancy them to have too much.

Verdict: Wales 1 Denmark 2