Czech Republic vs Denmark: Euro 2020 team news and prediction

Czech Republic and Denmark face off on Saturday evening with a spot in the semi-finals of Euro 2020 up for grabs. 

The pair last met in a friendly back in 2016 with the spoils shared in a 1-1 draw as Antonin Barak's opener was cancelled out by Nicolai Jorgensen. 

Ahead of this quarter-final meeting, we have all your need-to-know matchday information in one place. Running through important team news, probable XIs and how both teams have fared at Euro 2020 to date. 

When is kick off? 

Saturday 3rd July, 17:00 GMT 

Where is the match? 

Baku Olympic Stadium, Baku (Azerbaijan) 

What TV channel is it on? 

ITV 

Route to the Quarter-Finals 

Czech Republic did just enough to book a last-16 spot in Group D as they earned four points from their three games. They were expected to drop out of Euro 2020 when they were drawn with the Netherlands in the first knockout round, but after the Oranje went down to 10 men, goals from Tomas Holes and Patrik Schick saw them captalise on their numerical advantage and secure a quarter-final spot in a 2-0 win. 

Denmark lost their opening two group games, falling to defeat at the hands of Finland and Belgium. However, they romped to a 4-1 win over Russia in their final Group B clash and, given their better goal difference, finished second behind the Red Devils. A Kasper Dolberg brace coupled with goals from Joakim Maehle and Martin Braithwaite set up a quarter-final showdown with the Czech Republic as they smashed Wales 4-0. 

Team News 

Jan Boril returns following a ban and should come back into the XI at left-back, with Pavel Kaderabek set to make way despite his solid showing against the Netherlands. Antonin Barak and Petr Sevcik were surprise starters in the 2-0 win over the Oranje and Jaroslav Silhavy may be reluctant to make too many changes to the XI that did enough to book a quarter-final spot, though captain Vladimir Darida is pushing for a recall. 

Daniel Wass, Simon Kjaer and Thomas Delaney are all expected to be available for Kasper Hjulmand as Denmark seek a semi-final berth. The latter pair haven't trained fully this week, so it remains to be seen if they will start, while Jens Stryger Larsen deputised well for the former and is hoping to keep his place at right wing-back. Yussuf Poulsen is not fit enough to play the full 90, while Christian Eriksen is of course absent. 

Probable XIs 

Czech Republic (4231) - Vaclik; Coufal, Celustka, Kalas, Boril; Holes, Soucek; Masopust, Barak, Jantko; Schick

Denmark (3421) - Schmeichel; Christensen, Kjaer, Vestergaard; Larsen, Delaney, Hojbjerg, Maehle; Braithwaite, Damsgaard; Dolberg

Key Battle: Tomas Soucek vs Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg

Tomas Soucek hasn't able to completely transfer his form from the Premier League to the Euros, but the West Ham star has been a key player in the middle of the park for the Czech Republic this summer no less. The towering Czech ranks top for aerial duels won (15) of all players for his nation at the competition and, if Denmark do go direct in this quarter-final clash, then Soucek will be confident of countering the threat.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has been a creative force for Denmark this summer. Only Steven Zuber (4) has registered more assists than the Tottenham man (3) at Euro 2020 at the time of writing. While looked on as a destroyer for Spurs, the 25-year-old has made nine key passes at the tournament, that the fifth best return, and just seven off matching his Premier League total (16) in 2020/21.

Score Prediction: Czech Republic 1-3 Denmark