Joe Allen faces a vital midfield battle with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in Wales’ last-16 tie against Denmark, while Kieffer Moore will relish going to war with Simon Kjaer… CHRIS SUTTON looks at three key clashes for a huge game in Amsterdam
Wales face Denmark in Amsterdam on Saturday night in an intriguing Euro 2020 last-16 clash.
Robert Page’s men are up against a hungry Danish outfit which have been buoyed by support from around the world after midfielder Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest in their tournament opener against Finland.
With several key battles that will help to decide the outcome, Sportsmail’s CHRI SUTTON has outlined where the game could be won or lost.
Joe Allen could have an important part to play as Wales take on Denmark in the last-16
KIEFFER MOORE V SIMON KJAER
I’d describe Moore as an old-fashioned lump (in a nice way). The 6ft 5in striker is a handful and he’d love to go to war with Kjaer tonight. I hope we get to see that, too.
Wales opted for a false nine in the final group game against Italy, using Aaron Ramsey and losing 1-0. I’d rather see Ramsey return to a No 10 role, where he can make runs from deep, and Moore up top.
He gets you up that pitch. Kjaer will likely have Jannik Vestergaard and Andreas Christensen on either side of him in a back three. He’s an inspirational leader and outstanding organiser.
Wales striker Kieffer Moore (left) faces an intriguing battle up against Simon Kjaer (right)
JOE ALLEN v PIERRE-EMILE HOJBJERG
Allen is the tidy midfielder whose average positions from each group game places him slap-bang in that centre circle.
He’s got the best passing accuracy of any Wales player and he’ll be manning the middle of the park on Saturday night – but so will Hojbjerg. No player has managed more assists than the Denmark midfielder’s three at Euro 2020, and he’s been playing nice passes into the final third.
But Hojbjerg’s main asset is that he’s an ankle biter. He’ll hunt down the ball and the man on it. That’s what Allen needs to beware as he heads into this key battle.
The midfield battle between Wales’ Joe Allen (left) and Denmark’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (right) could be hugely important
GARETH BALE v JOAKIM MAEHLE
Bale will be looking to make the right-hand side his own but also manning that flank will be Maehle.
The Denmark left wing-back has made the second-most dribbles at Euro 2020, behind only Kylian Mbappe of France. He showed great composure and energy in finishing a counter-attack to complete their recent 4-1 win over Russia.
We are bound to see the odd foot-race between Bale and Maehle in Amsterdam on Saturday night. Rob Page says Wales possess the best counterattackers in Europe. Chief among them is Bale. At 31, he’s still got strength, skill, stamina and speed.
Gareth Bale (left) faces a challenge as he takes on Joakim Maehle (right) in Amsterdam