Denmark started the finals of the 2023 Women’s World Cup against China with a mixed performance, but still got the three points: A last-minute goal by substitute Amalie Vangsgaard gave the Northern Europeans a lucky win in the preliminary round group D game on Saturday (07/22/2023).
For a long time the stadium in Perth, Australia, looked like it was zero, but in the 90th minute the Danes actually had an ace up their sleeve: after a corner by superstar Pernille Harder, the 1.82 meter tall Vangsgaard, who had only just come on as a substitute, headed into the left corner from the center of the penalty area (90th) for the acclaimed winner. The 26-year-old could not have chosen a better time for her first goal in the national jersey. However, the goal was bitter for the Chinese, who had at least made a slightly better impression for long stretches in a duel between two teams that were disappointing in terms of play.
Denmark meets European champions England in the second game
At the last World Cup participation in 2007, the Danes were eliminated after the preliminary round – among other things after a 2:3 in the group game against China. Where the journey for the Europeans will lead 16 years later at the tournament in Australia and New Zealand is not yet clear. One thing is certain: They will have to improve significantly in order to score points against England on the second matchday on Friday (July 28th, 2023, 10.30 a.m. CEST, live stream on sportschau.de). However: The European champions were also not completely convincing in their opening game, they only just beat outsiders Haiti 1-0.
China takes Denmark star Harder out of the game
In their first World Cup game Down Under, Denmark and China started offensively cautious, but at least combative. After most of the action took place in midfield in the early stages, Qiaozhu Chen (6′) and Linyan Zhang (8′) created the first chances for the Chinese and three corners in front of the North Europeans’ goal, but without seriously endangering the goal.
In the case of the Danes, who became European runners-up in 2017, offensive player Harder, who is moving from Chelsea to FC Bayern Munich for the new season, was unable to set any accents in midfield in the first round – thanks to the Chinese defense. Harder’s team presented themselves accordingly haphazard in attack – and consequently did not have any opportunities. A yellow card against Rikke Sevecke after a jersey pluck on the center line (40th) brought some excitement into the game before the break. Only six shot attempts in the first 45 minutes – so few had only been seen in the game between Australia and Ireland at this World Cup.
Hasbo misses a big chance with a header
In the dressing room, the coaches Lars Söndergaard and Qingxia Shui probably chose words like “play faster, more directly forward” or “put more pressure and switch faster”, because both teams did exactly that immediately after the break. After two early chances for China by Shuang Wang (47′, 49′), the free-standing Josefine Hasbo should have sunk her header to make it 1-0 for Denmark (49′).
China can only do better against Haiti
But a real increase in quality did not take place after that; even after several substitutions, it remained a game in which fighting was the trump card. China were the harder team, but the Asians lacked the accuracy in passing and shooting to pose a serious threat to Denmark.
With 15 minutes remaining, the Chinese were lucky when Shanshan Wang’s header from a Denmark free-kick came close to an own goal. But Vangsgaard’s late goal – their first headed goal at the World Cup – left them empty-handed when the final whistle blew. The next chance for the first World Cup points in 2023 is in the game against Haiti next Friday (July 28, 2023, 1:00 p.m. CEST, in the live stream on sportschau.de).
No penalty for the first time at this World Cup
A special feature should not go unmentioned after the tough 90 minutes in Perth: The game between Denmark and China was the first in the current World Cup in which there was no penalty.