Euro 2020: De Bruyne inspires Belgium past Denmark to round of 16

BELGIUM became the second team after Italy to qualify for the round of 16 of the European Championship with a 2-1 win over Denmark in Copenhagen on Thursday.

The world’s No.1 ranked team conceded first to Yusuf Poulsen’s early strike but fought back to get the three points with goals from Thorgan Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne.

Copenhagen fans and players from both sides paid tribute to Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen, who is recovering in hospital after suffering cardiac arrest.

The Inter Milan midfielder collapsed on the pitch at the Parken Stadium during Saturday’s game against Finland which Denmark eventually lost 1-0.

Tributes were paid to Eriksen, who wears Denmark’s No.10, with play stopped in the 10th minute as players, officials and supporters observed a minute’s applause.

Eight minutes earlier, Poulsen gave the hosts a blistering start, profiting from a mistake in the Belgium defence.

After failing to respond to Denmark’s fast start in the first half, Belgium brought De Bruyne on at the start of the second half and the Manchester City midfielder had a great impact.

He assisted Hazard for the equaliser, taking a pass from Romelu Lukaku after the Inter Milan striker’s powerful run, before laying it on for Hazard to fire home.

The City star then scored the winning goal in the 70th minute with a superb left-foot shot from the edge of the Denmark box after another brilliant move started by Lukaku.

Barcelona striker Martin Braithwaite almost got a late equaliser for the spirited Danes but his header bounced off the top of the bar.

Belgium are top of Group B with six points from two matches while Denmark are bottom of the standings with no points.