Denmark and Spain to battle it out for right to face England hosts

Denmark and Spain will battle it out for the right to face hosts England in the Euro 2022 quarter-finals on Saturday.

The Group B rivals meet at the Brentford Community Stadium with the Spaniards needing to draw to clinch runners-up spot behind Germany, who already know they will meet Austria in the last eight, while the Danes have to win to progress.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at what lies ahead as the tournament approaches the knockout stage.

Spain boss Jorge Vilda has ordered his players to leave nothing to chance as they attempt to book a showdown with England.

A point against Denmark will be enough to ensure they finish second in Group B, but Vilda is acutely aware of the dangers of playing for a draw in a game he has characterised as a “final”.

He said at his pre-match press conference: “If you go out to draw or speculate with the result, it can turn out badly. Tomorrow is a final we want to win. It is the only objective.”

Denmark coach Lars Sondergaard has urged his team not to be satisfied with what they have already achieved as they prepare for their do-or-die clash with Spain.

The fact that the Danes are still very much in the running as the group stage draws to a close is in itself an achievement, but Sondergaard is not ready for the adventure to end just yet.

Speaking at his press conference, he said: “We’re very satisfied that we’ve come so far and that we can play a decider in the final group game. But of course we would like to go one step further.”

Only pride will be at stake when Group B winners Germany face pointless Finland at Stadium MK.

The Germans will meet the Austrians on Thursday for a place in the semi-finals after victories over Denmark and Spain in their opening two fixtures, but