5 best players for Denmark at Euro 2020

Euro 2020 was a tournament of the underdogs.

Many less-fancied teams scripted fairytale stories with shock upsets or by going deep into the competition. Denmark certainly caused a huge surprise with a semi-final finish against all odds despite losing key player Christian Eriksen in the opening game due to a shock on-field cardiac arrest.

Kasper Hjulmand's side displayed incredible team spirit and became the first side to reach the last-four after losing their first two group fixtures.

The Danes played their hearts out but these five players particularly stood out for their performances:

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#5 Simon Kjaer

Kjaer was a fantastic captain for Denmark

Simon Kjaer won everyone's hearts for his leadership and character when tragedy struck Christian Eriksen in Denmark's opening game.

That set the tone for the rest of his campaign as the Dane skipper led by example from the back with his resolute defending.

He ranks inside top 10 for ball recoveries (39), clearances (23), and tackles (12) in the tournament, a remarkable record and a reflection of how big a role Kjaer played in Denmark's success.

Too bad that his impressive campaign ended with a whimper as he put the ball into his own net in the semi-finals against England.

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#4 Kasper Dolberg

Dolberg was Denmark's top-scorer with three goals

Denmark scored seven goals in the knockout stages, three of which came from Kasper Dolberg alone, a testament to the impact he had.

Going into the tournament, the forward had scored only seven goals for the Danes in 26 games, but Dolberg truly came up trumps for his side in big games.

He netted twice against Wales in the last-16, including a superb effort from outside the box, before bagging another in the quarter-finals as they beat Czech Republic.

The 23-year-old has excellent control of the ball, can hold it up well and is a clinical finisher as well. He could be a useful addition to Crystal Palace, the Premier League side which have expressed interest in him.

#3 Mikkel Damsgaard

Damsgaard was a breath of fresh air at Euro 2020

From playing at the Milk Cup junior tournament in Northern Ireland three years ago to starring for Denmark at Euro 2020, it's been a meteoric rise to stardom for Mikkel Damsgaard.

The 21-year-old caught the eye with his superb goalscoring threat and prolific dribbling abilities, while the Sampdoria man's stupendous direct free-kick goal against England, the only one of the tournament, will live long in the memory.

Damsgaard's technique, vision and tactical understanding go well beyond his years, and the best part is, he still has plenty of time to get even better.

The forward that he's not generated a new crop of admirers, but also garnered interest from top sides like AC Milan, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Leicester City.

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#2 Joakim Maehle

Maehle is now wanted by some top clubs, including European champions, Chelsea

He was a relatively unknown quantity going into the Euros, but came out of it as a bona fide star. Such was the impact Joakim Maehle made with Denmark.

The full-back was a revelation on the left-flank, despite being right-footed, and managed to score two goals as well as create one. And boy, that goal was something!

Maehle's outside-of-the-boot cross for Kasper Dolberg in their quarter-final clash against the Czech Republic was simply outrageous, and if there was an award for the best assist, he would've surely bagged it.

Atalanta bought the player for just £8.5 million in January, and they'd be patting themselves on the back for that, for Maehle is now worth more than three times the price.

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#1 Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg

Hojbjerg was the only Danish player in UEFA's team of the tournament for Euro 2020

Any player who plays every single minute of a league campaign before entering a major tournament would surely feel a sense of exhaustion. But it turns out, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is a never-ending reservior of energy and carried his prolific club form onto the international stage too.

Arguably the best midfielder on display, the Tottenham Hotspur star was the driving force behind Denmark's sensational run, controlling their rhythm and playing a key role in breaking up opposition play.

His stats don't lie - Hojbjerg created 11 chances, made three assists, and recovered the ball 51 times, more than any player in the competition. Truly remarkable numbers for someone who played 4,323 minutes in the previous 10 months.

Spurs will be expecting more of the same next season as they look to rebuild from a disappointing campaign last time out.