Denmark’s Ruthless First-Half Barrage Buries Greece: Højlund and Damsgaard Take Danes to Brink of World Cup Return

COPENHAGEN — Under a pale October sky at Parken, Denmark delivered a thunderous statement in their relentless pursuit of World Cup qualification, overpowering Greece 3-1 in a match defined by a ten-minute stretch of attacking brilliance that left the Greeks in disarray and the Danes in command of Group B.

The final score may suggest competitive balance, but for much of the evening, Denmark played with the assurance of a side determined to erase any doubts about its status among Europe’s elite. Led by the dynamic Rasmus Højlund, who opened the scoring in the 21st minute, the Danes struck three times before halftime — each goal magnifying the gulf in class between these two sides at this crucial stage of qualification.

From the outset, Denmark seized the initiative. The tone was set by their captain’s relentless pressing and the technical confidence that has become their hallmark during this qualifying cycle. Greece, on the back of consecutive defeats and still reeling from their 3-0 capitulation to this same opponent in September, looked unsettled from the opening whistle.

The breakthrough came courtesy of Højlund, whose instinct for space and ice-cold finishing have become hallmarks of this Danish generation. Sliding between two Greek defenders, he latched onto a teasing ball from the right and rifled home from close range, his celebration punctuating a moment that felt almost inevitable given the early pressure.

Greece’s hopes of regrouping were dashed just before the break. On 40 minutes, Joachim Andersen rose above a crowded penalty area to meet a well-delivered corner, glancing a header beyond the outstretched Greek keeper. The Parken crowd was still celebrating when, barely a minute later, Mikkel Damsgaard capped off a sweeping move with a composed finish, his curling effort nestling into the far corner to make it 3-0. For the visitors, déjà vu set in — not only was Damsgaard again on the scoresheet, as he was at their last meeting, but the rapid-fire double struck a familiar note of Danish dominance.

Credit must be given to Greece for a spirited response in the second half. Their midfield began to find pockets of space, and Denmark, perhaps sensing their work was largely done, allowed the tempo to slip. Christos Tzolis offered the Greek contingent a glimmer of hope in the 63rd minute, ghosting into the Danish box to slot past Kasper Schmeichel. Yet, by then, the issue was all but settled.

The result keeps Denmark unbeaten in their last five qualifiers — a sequence including a six-goal demolition of Belarus and a composed scoreless draw with Scotland. It is form that leaves them atop Group B, clear of a chasing pack that has neither their cohesion nor their firepower. Højlund’s consistency in the final third, combined with the creativity of Damsgaard and the steel of Andersen in defense, has given manager Kasper Hjulmand a platform from which qualification now seems not just likely, but inevitable.

For Greece, the defeat compounds a campaign unspooling at the seams. Back-to-back home losses — first to Denmark, then to Scotland — have left them adrift in the standings, their early-September euphoria after thrashing Belarus now a distant memory. The Greek defense, once so resolute, has now conceded three goals or more in each of their last three outings. Their solitary bright spot came with Tzolis’s strike, but for manager Gus Poyet, the questions will be about how to stem the bleeding ahead of a daunting run-in.

The two teams’ recent encounters have underscored the present hierarchy. Denmark’s 3-0 victory in Athens last month was a precursor to tonight’s performance: controlled, clinical, and devoid of sentiment. For Greece, the results have been a harsh reckoning with their limitations — each match against Denmark a reminder of just how far they have to climb to rejoin Europe’s contenders.

As the group campaign enters its final stretch, Denmark’s fate now seems firmly in their own hands. With their blend of youth and experience, and with Højlund and Damsgaard flourishing in attack, Hjulmand’s side can start to envision a return to the world’s grandest stage next summer. That is both the promise and the pressure of nights like this, when the margin for error disappears and every mistake — and every moment of brilliance — carries lasting consequence.

Greece, now in desperate need of a turnaround, must regroup quickly if they are to salvage any hope of a playoff berth. Their campaign, once buoyed by early optimism, is in danger of slipping away altogether.

For Denmark, Parken was once again a fortress. For Greece, Copenhagen was a cold and costly stop on a road that now looks long and uncertain. The World Cup dream endures — but only for those who seize these moments. Tonight, that team wore red.