The second round of the group stage at the 2020 UEFA European Football Championship (Euro 2020) is set to continue, on Thursday, with three matches. Each of the teams taking part is looking to complete its victories or modify its position after the disappointing results of the first round.
First, Ukraine will meet North Macedonia in Group C, in a match in which each team is looking for its first victory, after both lost in the first round.
Expectations may favour Ukraine’s victory, after their strong performance in the first round against the star-studded Dutch team, and an honourable loss by three goals to two.
Ukraine coach Andriy Shevchenko is looking for a way to get his team out of frustration after their last-minute loss against the Netherlands. He aims to get his team to focus on facing North Macedonia, which are participating for the first time in the Euro championship.
North Macedonia and Ukraine enter the match without any points. and occupy the bottom of the Group C standings.
Meanwhile, Denmark will take on Belgium in Group B at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen. Denmark aim to correct their position to qualify, especially after the Danish star Christian Eriksen suffered cardiac arrest on the pitch in their last match.
After their 1-0 defeat against Finland and Eriksen’s health crisis, Denmark are looking to recover in time to face Belgium, which defeated Russia 3-0 in the first round. The Scandinavians will also have to play the match without their best player (Eriksen).
The Danish players were still in shock during training, this week, after the events against Finland. Eriksen has been in the hospital since then, where he is currently recovering.
On the other hand, Belgium are looking to win this match and secure their qualification to the playoffs, The Red Devils have big names such as Romelu Lukaku, who scored a double against Russia, Thomas Meunier of Borussia Dortmund, and Eden Hazard of Real Madrid, as well as many other stars.
Belgium lead Group B with three points, while the Danish team enter the match without any points in third place.
Thursday’s matches will conclude at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam, with the Group C seeing a strong match between the Netherlands and Austria.
Both teams saw a strong and positive start to their competition, after Austria won 3-1 over North Macedonia, and achieved their first victory of the competition.
The Austrians hope to continue their success in the first round of Group C matches, but they are aware that the Netherlands are a much more difficult opponent than North Macedonia, which are participating in the tournament for the first time.
The Dutch team will seek to strengthen their defence, to avoid what happened in Sunday’s match against Ukraine, when they conceded two goals towards the end of the game which could end 2-2- but Denzel Dumfries’ goal in the 85th minute saved them.
Both teams have three points, which they won from the first round matches, and they occupy the top of the group.
