Denmark 0 Spain 1

Women's Euro 2022, Group Stages Match Day Three, Group B, Saturday 16th July

West London was my venue for my third experience of the Women's Euro 2022 and saw a late Marta Cardona header net Spain victory over Denmark at Brentford's Community Stadium and set up a mouth watering Quarter Final clash with hosts England.

This was my first visit to the stadium, and what a stadium it is, it's designed different to a lot of other ones and certainly keeps the noise inside the ground, and a raucous atmosphere of over 16,000 were present to see who could set up a quarter final with England on Wednesday in Brighton.

Spain were the ones in the driving seat and the favourites to succeed not just in this game and qualify, but one of the front runners for the whole competition, they needed to just avoid defeat in this one against a Denmark side who needed to win to stun their opponents and make the last eight instead.

Denmark's tournament began in disappointing fashion in what was labelled the 'Group Of Death' after being thumped by another of the front runners Germany, but the 2017 runners up bounced back to beat Finland last time out, setting up this decider against the Spanish of whom had thumped Finland but then lost to the Germans last time out.

Spain were expected to dominate possession, which they did, but the stubborn Danes really put up a great fight and this made for a terrific contest, and led brilliantly by the Chelsea striker Pernille Harder carried a real threat on the counter, and Harder in fact created the first real chance of the contest, laying off to team-mate Karen Holmgaard who took two long to try and shoot and was snuffed out.

Harder then raced onto a through ball but failed to chip it over Spanish keeper Sandro Panos, before the Chelsea forward linked up with Rikke Madsen, only to force a save at the near post from a tight angle, but they were certainly giving Spain a lot to think about that was for sure.

Spain did eventually settle though and got into their rhythm and pin the Danes into their own third and should have taken the lead but saw Athenea del Castillo's close range header scrambled away from close range, but the game was evenly poised as the players went into the changing rooms for a well earned half time break.

Both managers made changes early in the second period as Denmark worked tirelessly to win the ball back and their opponents looked for that opening to ease the pressure on them, knowing a Danish goal could send them out, and although Spain created plenty of chances to ease the tension, Denmark so nearly grabbed that goal on more than one occasion.

Harder, who was a constant menace, fired an attempt inches over the bar, and then she almost created a breakthrough, teeing up substitute Nadia Nadim whose effort was well tipped over by Panos, but as the clocked ticked past the 89 minute mark, Spain grabbed that goal to rubber stamp their quarter final place.

It came when Cardona rose highest at the back post to send a lovely header back across goal and into the far corner, it had been a unconvincing display from the Spanish who looked vulnerable out of possession, but after loosing Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas on the eve of the tournament, it was a relief to qualify for the last eight.  

Denmark put up a very good fight it must be said, but the current runners up are now out, England await Spain in the Quarter Finals, that is one not to be missed.

Full time Denmark 0 Spain 1