Denmark to upset England in their own backyard
However fortunate England were in their victory over world number ones Belgium, they displayed a level of pragmatism rarely seen under Gareth Southgate or any other recent manager. Opponents Denmark dispatched Scandinavian rivals Iceland with relative ease at the weekend, and will arrive at Wembley full of confidence. The Three Lions top the pool currently, but a win for the visitors would blow UEFA Nations League Group A2 wide open. Read our preview here:
Harry's game?
A surprise absentee from the starting line-up against the Red Devils on Sunday was Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane. The truncated season has meant many minutes have already been accrued in an unusually short expanse of time by the red-hot talisman. Club head coach José Mourinho has already voiced concerns about his fitness, and with the number of other options available to Southgate, it would on the face of it seem needless to deploy him on Wednesday evening. Either way, Dominic Calvert-Lewin should continue to be at the spearhead the attack, but a different balance will need to be struck against less overtly opponents and a midfield that will have a double pivot. Ben Chilwell is unlikely to feature, which could mean another lopsided, distinctly right-footed defence. Whilst the wing-backs ought to have more freedom to roam than they enjoyed in their last match, they need to be mindful of how cavalier and enterprising they are.
Eriksen gets his spurs
Former Spurs playmaker Christian Eriksen is in line to receive his 100th cap for Denmark against very familiar opponents. A very different beast for de rød-hvide, he is far more liable to be the one finishing off a move than playing the key pass or initiating it in the first instance. This was demonstrated as he led the breakaway for the crucial second goal in Reykjavik, and his calmness on the ball in the danger zone will make or break what can be achieved. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg will fancy his chances of pulling the strings behind his compatriot where they'll have numerical and technical strength. The triumvirate supporting Kasper Dolberg will be very narrow, making their adversaries think twice about how high to have their own defensive line.
Wembley woes
A keenly contested encounter will be on show in the eerily empty north London stadium. To varying degrees, both countries will have reasons to believe that they can grab the win that could help decide matters in the group... or make them go down to the wire. The home triumph against Belgium may prove to be the apex of what the hosts do. In their last meeting, Denmark had the better of a dull fixture England ought to have snatched at the death through Kane. The dilemma of his 'will he, won't he' involvement has overshadowed the build-up to a certain extent, and the visitors will fancy their chances of scoring an upset, especially when Southgate persists with a woefully out-of-form Jordan Pickford in goal. Betfair are offering odds of 5.00 for an away win that would really put the cat amongst the proverbial pigeons!
