Below, check out five items you want to understand about Thursday’s action.
1) Spiritual Eriksen
Like everyone else, we at 101 are praying for Christian Eriksen, after his cardiac arrest during Denmark’s opening day defeat to Finland.
Soccer, as a whole, nevertheless feels altogether immaterial when considering what the Danes have gone over recent days. However, they are now tasked with carrying on a rampant Belgium side. The clash is set to play at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, the same place which saw Eriksen’s collapse send shockwaves across the world just days ago.
It’s uncertain how concentrated Denmark’s stars will be, before a potentially difficult evening for all involved.
Taking to Instagram on Tuesday afternoon, the Inter Milan guy posted the next, thanking fans for their messages of support, before assuring that he is feeling’fine’:
‘Big thanks to your sweet and amazing greetings and messages from all over the world.’
‘This means a great deal to me personally and my family. I’m fine — under the circumstances. I still have to experience some assessments at the hospital, but I feel alright.’
‘Today, I’ll cheer on the boys on the Denmark team within the next matches. Perform for all of Denmark.’
2) Preview of El Clasico conflict during Austria vs Netherlands
Moving onto this evening’s showdown between the Netherlands and Austria, it might be well worth taking note of somebody struggle with ties to 2 of world football’s biggest clubs.
The Amsterdam clash, between two nations who obtained their individual Euro 2020 campaigns off to winning starts at the weekend, also will feature the talents of both Frenkie de Jong and David Alaba. In seasons gone by, this kind of meeting would have been largely insignificant. However, with Alaba having chosen to take his abilities into Real Madrid ahead of next year, it now marks a Clasico face-off.
De Jong has of course already solidified himself as a vital member of Barcelona’s positions in the middle of the park, and seems set to continue to play a starring role at the Camp Nou for years to come.
Alaba, meanwhile, will no doubt be desperate to prove himself away from Bayern Munich, amid a fresh era under Carlo Ancelotti from the Spanish capital. It is also worth remembering that websites reports have persistently pushed the narrative that Alaba has set his sights on a midfield berth ahead of their 2021/22 campaign.
The talented British is set to take up a defensive function for his nation later this day, but expect at least a few clashes between two of El Clasico’s stars of tomorrow within the course of the 90 minutes.
3) Serie A fans ought to be eager on Ukraine vs North Macedonia
Italian ties run deep throughout the fixture, beginning with AC Milan legend Andriy Shevchenko, that will of course take his place on the bench for the former in the National Arena in Bucharest.
Elsewhere, some of the Italian top-flight’s midfield celebrities have been set to do battle at the middle of the playground. Ruslan Malinovskyi (Ukraine) shone brightly as among Atalanta’s key men last season, making use of his hammer of a left foot to stand up 10 goals and 12 assists across all contests.
The 21-year-old is a remarkable up-and-coming talent, broadly viewed as the future of the country’s midfield.
Last but certainly not least when it comes to the Serie A ties surrounding Ukraine’s clash with North American Macedonia is of course Goran Pandev.
The veteran hitman stands as the only North Macedonian to ever score 100 goals in one of Europe’s top 5 leagues (Serie A). Not only that, but, at the grand old age of 37, Pandev demonstrated his predatory instincts remain very much intact, in temporarily bringing his nation degree en route to an eventual opening day defeat to Austria at the weekend.
4) All indications point towards Netherlands
When it comes to forecasting the outcomes place to perform on Thursday, one secure bet comes in the form of a Netherlands success over Austria.
The Oranje acquired their Euros effort off to a solid if unspectacular begin on Sunday. They place Ukraine to the sword by 3 goals to two.
