Stats ahead of Northern Ireland v Denmark
Denmark are unbeaten in all six of their previous home matches against Northern Ireland in all competitions (W4 D2), keeping four clean sheets.
Northern Ireland have won two of their last three games against Denmark (L1), after only winning one of their first 10 meetings with the Danes (D5 L4).
Advertisement
Northern Ireland have won just one of their last 24 matches against nations ranked inside the top 25 of the FIFA rankings (D5 L18), though it was a win against Denmark in November 2023.
Denmark have won 23 of their last 26 home matches in all competitions (D1 L2) and are unbeaten in each of their last 16 friendlies on home soil (W13 D3), since a 2-1 loss to France in October 2015.
Northern Ireland are winless in each of their last three matches (D2 L1), their longest run since going five without victory between March and September 2023.
Denmark have lost two of their four matches under manager Brian Riemer (W1 D1), the same number of defeats as they suffered across their final 16 games under their previous permanent manager Kasper Hjulmand (W9 D5).
Advertisement
Christian Eriksen has been directly involved in four goals in his last five Denmark appearances, both scoring and assisting against Switzerland in October, and last time out against Portugal.
Isaac Price has scored in each of his last three national team appearances, with David Healy in August 2007 the last player to score in four successive outings for Northern Ireland.
All data provided by Opta
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski says ‘mental tiredness' behind absence from Poland squad
Robert Lewandowski said he was not included in Poland's June international matches due to feeling 'mentally tired'. Lewandowski was absent as his nation beat Moldova 2-0 in a friendly on Friday. The 36-year-old will also miss Poland's World Cup qualifier against Finland on June 10 after making himself unavailable for this month's international window. Advertisement 'I know that I am often judged as a professional, not a person,' Lewandowski told Polish broadcaster TVP Sport. 'Returning from injury, I played two league games and told coach (Michal) Probierz that I did not feel good physically, but especially mentally. 'With all due respect to journalists, none of you thought about the fact that you can be mentally tired. Who among you can know better how I feel?' Lewandowski played 52 times and scored 42 goals for Barcelona this term, his highest number of appearances in a single season during his career, as the Catalan side clinched La Liga and the Copa del Rey title. The striker suffered a hamstring injury during his side's 4-3 victory over Celta Vigo in April and, despite playing in extra time for the 4-3 (7-6 aggregate) defeat against Inter in the Champions League semi-final, was an unused substitute for the subsequent victory over Real Madrid. He played in each of Barcelona's final three matches of the season, scoring twice against Athletic Club on the final day. Poland lead Group G in UEFA's World Cup qualifying standings with two wins from two matches. Their 1-0 victory over Lithuania to open the campaign was decided by an 81st-minute Lewandowski goal in March. (Piero Cruciatti/AFP via Getty Images)
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
New $3 million addition could put Cowboys ahead of curve in revolutionizing red-zone play
It's not common practice to develop a specialist role for a key position such as quarterback in today's NFL. A starter is a starter and removing said player tips off intensions and frankly comes off as a little disrespectful. For the Dallas Cowboys and Dak Prescott, replacing the QB in select goal-line packages could be seen as both, even if it seems like a smart course of action for all parties involved. The Cowboys touchdown scoring percentage in the red zone was just 46 percent in 2024. That was second to last in the NFL, ranking only above the lowly Giants. The Cowboys' inability to get into the endzone was a season-long issue, dating back before Prescott's season-ending injury. It left points on the board and ultimately demoralized an already fragile unit. Advertisement Prescott is scheduled to return in 2025 with a full bill of health. In previous seasons, he's been an assassin from the red zone, guiding the Cowboys to a No. 12 ranking in 2023 and to No. 1 overall ranking in 2022. Given his past proficiency, it's not preposterous to think he can bounce back to those levels again in 2025, but is the risk worth it? A major part of Prescott's redzone efficiency lies in his ability to run the ball. As a ball carrier Prescott operated at a 0.40 EPA/play with a 100 percent success rate on two attempts in 2024. The season before he was at 0.16 EPA/play with a 71.43% success rate on 14 attempts. QBs are universally a highly efficient rushing option from the red zone; the only downside is such plays open them up to hits and potential injury. The Cowboys can ill afford to suffer and injury of Prescott's magnitude so alternatives need to be explored. Prescott, 32, is the highest paid player in the NFL and an irreplaceable part on the Cowboys' machine. He's not injury prone, per say, but having missed five or more games in three of the last five seasons, he's not exactly made of metal either. Using him as a runner might be more risk than the Cowboys want to take on and finding a replacement option may not be as crazy as it sounds when all factors are under consideration. After adding Joe Milton in an offseason trade, the Cowboys have an intriguing option as a situational replacement to Prescott. The highly gifted, yet severely underdeveloped, quarterback prospect is sure to drive headlines throughout the summer with dazzling throws and highlight runs. Milton, who has three years and $3 million remaining on his rookie deal, could be the answer in the red zone based on his skillset and dispensability. If Prescott gets hurt tucking and running the season might be over for the Cowboys. If Milton gets hurt running the rock, it's unlikely to have any impact on the success or failure of the season, and the financial investment in him is already minimal. At 6-foot-5, 246-pounds, Milton is built for the part. Coming from an RPO-rich offense in college, Milton is an ideal dual-threat inside the redzone. His reads downfield and accuracy as a passer leave something to be desired, but if cast into zone-read role where he can either handoff or run it himself, he offers something Prescott does not. Incorporating a single read as a passer is a great way to take that zone-read attack into a simple, but multifaceted, RPO. Advertisement Once upon a time the idea of having a dedicated closer in baseball seemed absurd. It wasn't until the late 1970s when teams started to designate specialists and from there it took years before it became the norm. In much the same way an occasional red-zone specialist could be normalized on early downs in the NFL. For teams with veteran QBs who are too important to risk and somewhat susceptible to injury, bringing in a dual-threat QB on early downs (non-obvious passing downs) could be a great way to take advantage of the game's highest leverage situations. QB runs are an important part of an efficient redzone offense but with a QB1 who's too important to risk, situational alternatives should be explored. Can Milton be that alternative? You can follow Reid on X @ReidDHanson and be sure to follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans! This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Joe Milton could give Cowboys creative advantage in red-zone scenarios
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Liverpool's £70m Target Could Be the Final Piece in Arne Slot's Attack
Viktor Gyökeres: The Finishing Touch for Liverpool's New Frontline Liverpool's transformation under Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes is moving at speed, and with the Arne Slot era only days past a Premier League title win in his maiden season, the outlines of a formidable new-look squad are already emerging. The return of title-winning euphoria has been swiftly paired with swift, decisive action in the transfer market. With Jeremie Frimpong signed at an exceptional £30 million, Florian Wirtz closing in on a record-breaking £135 million switch, and perhaps Milos Kerkez offering balance and bite from left-back, the club's evolution is clear and compelling. These moves echo a simple truth: Liverpool are preparing not just to defend their Premier League crown, but to forge a new dynasty. Advertisement Amid all the restructuring, one name has surged to the forefront of Liverpool's transfer radar: Viktor Gyökeres. The Sporting CP striker has been linked before, but this time, the smoke is thick—and with Darwin Núñez and Luis Díaz nearing lucrative exits, the fire may be incoming. On June 2nd, the day after the summer window officially opened for Club World Cup exemptions, Gyökeres was installed as the bookies' favourite to join Liverpool and complete a tantalising new-look attack. His goal record in Portugal is stunning, but it's what he could offer this new-look side tactically and psychologically that makes him a vital piece of the puzzle. The Killer Instinct Liverpool Have Missed Despite Darwin Núñez's chaotic but rare brilliance, Liverpool has too often lacked that cold-blooded, relentless finisher to capitalise on their dominance and chance creations. Gyökeres is the antithesis of wastefulness. With 54 goals in all competitions last season, he has demonstrated an ability to thrive both as a lead striker and as a relentless presser in a team that plays on the front foot. For a Slot-led Liverpool that will combine structure with vertical speed, there may be no better fit than the former Coventry striker. Advertisement He's not just a goal poacher, despite that trait standing so high on his list of potential. Gyökeres possesses that blend of size, speed, and technique that makes him a nightmare to defend against, especially in Europe's most elite division. His hold-up play is superb, his movement in the box razor-sharp, and his decision-making under pressure mature. Slot could build attacking patterns around his reliability, unlike the more volatile offerings of Núñez or the injury-prone Diogo Jota. As Salah drifts wide and Wirtz slices through the inside channels, Gyökeres offers a constant, clinical focal point. A Fluid Front Three with Teeth Pairing Mohamed Salah and Florian Wirtz either side of Gyökeres could unlock a front three as terrifying as any in Europe, even PSG. Salah, still at the peak of his powers, remains the club's gold standard for productivity and creation. Wirtz, by contrast, brings youthful ingenuity and intelligence that could mirror the early Liverpool days of Philippe Coutinho—with more purpose and power. Gyökeres would be the glue, the finisher, and the spearhead. This trident would also possess the balance that Slot craves as he looks to build a team in his image. Salah and Wirtz are both capable of dropping deep or going wide to allow the striker to exploit central lanes. Gyökeres' ability to rotate, drag defenders, and press relentlessly fits the pressing philosophy at the core of Liverpool's modern DNA. He does the dirty work but with a technician's flair not too dissimilar from England's world-class skipper, Harry Kane. That adaptability would also help Liverpool in Europe, where tighter games demand more than raw power or counter-attacking chaos. In Gyökeres, Liverpool would have a player able to wrestle with giants and dance around them too. They would have a striker that is not there to be a new false nine, but more fearsome. While Rivals Look Elsewhere, Liverpool Have Clarity The timing of Liverpool's potential move for Gyökeres is telling and could carry weight. Manchester United are distracted by internal uncertainty, Arsenal are dithering between a couple of targets, and Chelsea are bound by the financial and structural consequences of years of erratic spending. Advertisement Edwards and Hughes know that striking while on top is not just an act of dominance—it's one of insurance. Gyökeres won't come cheap, but unlike others in the market, he's ready-made for this Liverpool system. His desire to move, coupled with Sporting's realistic valuation in the region of £65-70 million, makes this both ambitious and viable. If Núñez and Díaz are sold for a combined £150 million, the maths begins to make sense, especially with the likes of Harvey Elliott and Ben Doak likely to fetch a combined £60 million. More than just filling a void, Gyökeres would give Arne Slot a centrepiece to build around, with solid experience negating any fear of prolonged integration. He would inherit the forward baton from a generation that delivered glory and set the tone for one that's only just beginning to understand its ceiling. Salah is still here, Wirtz is coming, and Gyökeres might just be the final hammer blow in a summer of surgical precision. Make no mistake, if these prospective dead come to light, dominance could well follow Final Word Liverpool is building something different and it's a wonderful sight to behold. This is not nostalgia-based recruitment, but the product of cold, effective planning that has been a year in the making. Viktor Gyökeres is no vanity purchase—he's a title defender and a potential Champions League difference-maker. With the rest of Europe dithering, Liverpool's intent could bring them back to the summit again and again. And in Gyökeres, they might just have found the forward to carry them there and keep them on top for years to come.
