Russia and Denmark will conclude their Euro 2020 Group B campaigns with a clash in Copenhagen on Monday evening, and both sides will be eyeing a spot in the last-16 stage of the competition.
As it stands, Russia are second in the section with three points, while Denmark are fourth on zero points, but the Danes could still claim second if they triumph here and Finland lose against Belgium, although Kasper Hjulmand's side would still need a swing in goal difference to occur.
Match preview
Russia started their Group B campaign with a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Belgium on June 12, but a 1-0 success over Finland last time out has placed them in a strong position ahead of their final match in the section.
Aleksey Miranchuk's effort on the stroke of the interval was enough to beat Finland on Wednesday evening, and the result has left the Russians in second spot in the group heading into the final matchday.
It is fairly straightforward for Stanislav Cherchesov's side, as a win would ensure that they are through to the last-16 stage of the competition, although a draw would also be enough to qualify if Finland fail to overcome Belgium in the section's other match on the same night.
Third position, of course, could also be enough to advance, but Russia will not want to take any chances and will therefore be determined to overcome Denmark in Copenhagen.
The National Team actually reached the semi-finals of Euro 2008 but failed to make it out of the groups in 2012 and 2016, meaning that a spot in the round of 16 would be a huge step forward for Cherchesov's side.
There is no getting away from the fact that it has been an emotional competition for Denmark due to Christian Eriksen's collapse in their opening match against Finland on June 12.
Eriksen has now been discharged from hospital after a successful operation to fit a defibrillator, and the Danes will leave this competition as heroes regardless of what happens in their final Group B fixture.
Denmark followed a 1-0 loss to Finland with a 2-1 defeat to Belgium on Thursday, which has left them bottom of the section on zero points, but they are still in with a chance of advancing to the round of 16.
Indeed, as mentioned, Hjulmand's team would finish in the top two if they overcome Russia by two or more goals and Finland lose against Belgium, which is not an impossible set of circumstances.
The Red and Whites are bidding to reach the knockout round of the competition for the first time since 2004, when they managed to advance to the quarter-finals before losing to the Czech Republic.
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Team News
Russia picked up a huge win over Finland last time out to boost their hopes of reaching the next round, and it would not be a surprise to see the same XI sent onto the field for this contest.
That said, there is likely to be a change in the right-sided wing-back area, as Mario Fernandes suffered a heavy fall against Finland, which led to him being carried off on a stretcher.
Fernandes has been cleared of damage to his vertebra, but he is not expected to feature here, meaning that Vyacheslav Karavaev could come in for a start.
Meanwhile, Miranchuk, who decided the game against Finland, should again operate in an advanced midfield position, supporting Artem Dzyuba in the final third of the field.
Denmark took to the field with a back five against Belgium but that is unlikely to be the case here, as they have to score some goals to stand any chance of securing a top-two position.
Martin Braithwaite and Yussuf Poulsen are certainties to start in the final third of the field, while there could be a return for Jonas Wind, who was not used against Belgium after struggling in his national team's first game at this summer's European Championship.
It could ultimately be a 4-3-3 for Denmark and close to the same side that started against Finland in their first match, with Mathias Jensen potentially coming in alongside Thomas Delaney and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in midfield.
Russia possible starting lineup:
Safonov; Barinov, Diveev, Dzhikiya; Karavaev, Ozdoev, Zobnin, Golovin, Kuzyaev; Miranchuk; Dzyuba
Denmark possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Wass, Kjaer, Christensen, Maehle; Delaney, Hojbjerg, Jensen; Braithwaite, Wind, Poulsen
We say: Russia 1-2 Denmark
Denmark need to beat Russia by two or more goals in order to stand a chance of finishing in the top two, and it is set to be a fascinating clash on Monday evening. We are backing the Danes to pick up all three points but believe that they could ultimately fall just short in their attempt to claim second spot.
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