Matsima and France book their place in U21 EURO semi-finals
Germany await on Wednesday
First Team
23.06.2025, 09:00
Having both ended the group stage with seven points, Denmark and France faced one another in the quarter-finals of the U21 European Championship on Sunday evening. Denmark twice led but France turned the game on its head inside two minutes to progress to the semi-finals.
FCA’s centre-back Chrislain Matsima, who played the full 90 minutes in France’s opening two games, returned to captain the side in the quarter-finals having been rested for their third group game.
Denmark’s positive start saw them take the lead in the 18th minute through Clement Bischoff. France slowly settled and got back on level terms just before the break courtesy of Djaoui Cisse’s strike from a tight angle (44’).
Denmark retook the lead at the start of the second half when Oliver Sorensen took advantage of a passive French defence (49’). France finally equalised in the 84th minute via Quentin Merlin and then went ahead a minute later when Mathys Tel bagged what would turn out to be the winning goal. Matsima wasn’t on the pitch for this dramatic ending after being taken off due to an injury sustained to his mouth (81’).
France play Germany, the winner of the fourth and final quarter-final, on Wednesday in Košice (25th June, 21:00 CEST). Antonio Di Salvo’s side eventually got the better of nine-man Italy in extra time last night to win 3-2.
