Muut

Denmark book comfortable win against Finns to secure World Cup qualification advantage

Denmark's Amalie Vangsgaard and Finland's Sanni Franssi, right, in action during the Nations League clash
Denmark's Amalie Vangsgaard and Finland's Sanni Franssi, right, in action during the Nations League clashČTK / AP / Liselotte Sabroe

Goals from Kathrine Kuhl and Pernille Harder was enough to give Denmark a 2-0 win at home in the Parken Stadium against Finland on Tuesday evening in the return leg of their Nations League Playoff clash for League A. Denmark had won the first leg 6-1 in Finland a week ago.

The overall Danish victory means that Denmark remain part of the 16 best teams in Europe and has a more attractive path to the World Cup 2027 in Brazil than Finland.

In the spring of 2026, Denmark will play in a Nations League format initially in a group with four teams, from which the winner advances to the World Cup.

Numbers two, three, and four must go through two playoff rounds this autumn to make it to the final round.

Although the goals did not arrive until the second half, spectators in the Parken Stadium were also well entertained before the break, where the Danes kept the Finns pinned to their own half thanks to strict discipline and periods of high pressure.

After just one minute of play, Janni Thomsen should have given the home side the lead, but face to face with the Finnish keeper, her poor attempt hit the side netting. 

Thomsen had another couple of great attempts in the opening phase, but both she and the rest of the Danish outfit missed a bit of the efficiency from the first match. 

After 73 minutes, Kuhl broke the deadlock when she exchanged short passes with Harder in the box before slotting the ball into the net. 

Five minutes from the end, Harder put the icing on the cake when she converted a penalty to double the lead. 

The next test for Jacob Michelsen's girls will be at the end of November, when Denmark will face Norway, among other nations, in a series of friendlies in Cadiz, Spain.

On Tuesday next week, lots will be drawn for the World Cup qualification featuring countries like England, Spain, Germany, France, Sweden, and Norway.