Denmark Dismantle Belarus in World Cup Qualifying Rout

ZALAEGERSZEG, Hungary — Denmark delivered an emphatic statement of intent in their World Cup qualifying campaign Thursday evening, overwhelming Belarus 6-0 in a match that was effectively decided before halftime.

The Danish attack proved relentless from the opening whistle, with Victor Froholdt breaking the deadlock in the 14th minute to set the tone for what would become a thoroughly one-sided affair. Five minutes later, Rasmus Højlund doubled the advantage, and any faint hopes Belarus harbored of salvaging something from the encounter evaporated entirely in a devastating first-half stoppage time sequence that saw Patrick Dorgu and Højlund again find the net to make it 4-0 at the interval.

The scoreline represented Denmark's most dominant qualifying performance in recent memory, a stark contrast to their goalless draw against Scotland five days earlier in Glasgow. That frustrating stalemate had raised questions about Denmark's attacking efficiency, particularly given their failure to convert possession into goals. Those concerns were emphatically answered at the ZTE-Aréna.

For Belarus, the humiliation continued a dismal qualifying campaign that has seen them concede 13 goals in their last three matches without response. Their 2-0 defeat to Scotland in early September was followed by a 5-1 thrashing in Greece, where German Barkovskiy's 72nd-minute consolation goal provided their only moment of success in an otherwise calamitous stretch. Against Denmark, they never threatened to add to that modest tally.

The second half brought no respite for the beleaguered Belarusian defense. Anders Dreyer entered the match and made an immediate impact, scoring in the 66th minute to extend Denmark's advantage to five. Twelve minutes later, Dreyer struck again, completing the rout and capping a performance that will surely boost his standing within the Danish squad.

Højlund's emergence as a clinical finisher has been one of the revelations of Denmark's qualifying campaign. His brace Thursday—the first coming in open play, the second in first-half stoppage time—demonstrated the kind of predatory instinct that Denmark will need as the qualifying rounds intensify. The 22-year-old's ability to find space in the penalty area and finish decisively has added a dimension to Denmark's attack that was occasionally missing in previous campaigns.

The match also highlighted the growing chasm between Europe's elite qualifying contenders and its struggling nations. While Denmark have now recovered from their draw with Scotland to post an impressive 3-0 victory over Greece and this comprehensive dismantling of Belarus, the latter finds itself in freefall. Playing at a neutral venue due to ongoing restrictions, Belarus lacked the foundation to mount any sustained resistance, their defensive structure crumbling under Denmark's pressing and movement.

Denmark's recent form tells the story of a team finding its rhythm at precisely the right moment. After the scoreless draw in Glasgow raised concerns, the Danes responded with consecutive clean sheets and nine goals scored in their subsequent two matches. The victory over Greece in Athens—secured by goals from Mikkel Damsgaard and Andreas Christensen—had already suggested Denmark was hitting stride, but Thursday's demolition confirmed it.

The path forward in European qualifying remains treacherous, with every point and goal differential potentially decisive. Denmark's commanding performance positions them favorably as the competition enters its crucial phase, where margins narrow and pressure intensifies. Their ability to punish inferior opposition ruthlessly—rather than merely scraping past them—could prove vital when final standings are calculated.

Belarus, meanwhile, faces the grim task of regrouping from a campaign that has spiraled beyond salvage. With confidence shattered and their defense repeatedly exposed, they must somehow find a way to restore credibility in their remaining fixtures, though Thursday's capitulation suggested that will require more than tactical adjustments.

Denmark will take considerable confidence from this performance as they prepare for their next qualifying challenge, knowing they possess both the attacking firepower to overwhelm lesser opponents and the defensive solidity to shut them out. In World Cup qualifying, such complete performances are rare. Denmark made theirs look routine.