National Team: San Marino brushes the dream with Alessandro Golinucci’s goal

In a magnificent setting at the San Marino Stadium – with over four thousand spectators in attendance – the San Marino National Team takes on one of Europe’s powerhouses, Denmark, in their eighth match of the EURO 2024 qualifying campaign. The Biancazzurri stand up to the Danish juggernaut and in the second half even come close to the dream of a draw thanks to a goal from Alessandro Golinucci. Fabrizio Costantini’s Titans start with the right attitude and face the Danish stars without fear, with the visitors fielding all their best players from the first whistle. Coach Hjulmand immediately sends out all his big names – Eriksen, Kjaer and Hojlund, to name just a few – but the Titans play the opening minutes on the front foot and win two excellent corners. Not only that: in the tenth minute D’Addario wins a great ball and races towards Schmeichel’s goal, but his right-footed effort – after a long run – lacks power and drifts wide to the applause of an engaged San Marino Stadium. The Danes then begin to build their play, though without creating any clear danger in the opening quarter of an hour. On 18 minutes the first real chance falls to the visitors, who try their luck from distance through Norgaard: his well-struck effort whistles just wide of Elia Benedettini’s right-hand post. Denmark do not push relentlessly, and San Marino remain switched on at the back, closing the spaces well. The Titans battle hard but it takes a piece of brilliance from Rasmus Hojlund late in the half to break the deadlock: the Manchester United forward collects the ball on the left and, almost from the by-line, fires an unstoppable shot past Elia Benedettini. The goal energises the Danes, who soon have a chance to double their lead again through Hojlund, but Cevoli shuts down the former Atalanta man’s attempt. After the break, however, San Marino’s efforts are rewarded. From a Capicchioni free-kick, Schmeichel misjudges the delivery, Cevoli tries to surprise the Danish keeper with a header on target, but Kjaer’s touch is crucial in keeping the ball out. It is only a matter of minutes, though, before the (in)credible equaliser for the Titans arrives: corner to the Biancazzurri, the ball is cleared to the edge of the box where Alessandro Golinucci pounces and shoots first time. The effort is deflected, but the touch proves decisive for San Marino and for their captain, who finds the net for the first time in a Biancazzurri shirt and sends the whole Stadium into raptures. Denmark refuse to accept the setback and are forced to pour forward again. The Titans hold firm, driven on by the crowd, but in the 70th minute they are undone once more by a header from Poulsen, restoring Hjulmand’s side’s advantage. Despite the blow, the Titans regroup well and even try to threaten Schmeichel again. Benedettini has little to do up to the final whistle, but Poulsen’s goal proves decisive and gives Denmark three points, taking them to the brink of qualification. Costantini’s Titans leave the pitch to a standing ovation from the Stadium at the end of an evening that will be hard to forget.

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UEFA European Qualifiers | San Marino-Denmark 1-2 SAN MARINO E. Benedettini, Fabbri (88' Franciosi), Rossi, Cevoli (74' Vitaioli); Tosi, A. Golinucci, Mi. Battistini (55' Ma. Battistini), Mularoni, D'Addario (55' Capicchioni); Lazzari (74' Di Maio), Nanni Substitutes: Simoncini, S. Benedettini, Zafferani, Tomassini, Ceccaroli, Magi, Pancotti Head coach: Fabrizio Costantini   DENMARK Schmeichel, Jelert (64' Skov), Kjaer, Andersen, Maehle (90+2' Kristensen); Hojbjerg, Norgaard, Eriksen; Daramy (61' Wind), Lindstrom (62' Poulsen), Hojlund (90+2' Jensen) Substitutes: Hermansen, Ronnow, Nelsson, Christensen, Hjulmand, Brunn Larsen, O'Riley Head coach: Kasper Hjulmand   Referee: Viktor Kopiievskyi (UKR) Assistant referees: Oleksandr Zhukov (UKR) and Volodymyr Vysotskyi (UKR) Fourth official: Vitaliy Romanov (UKR) VAR: Fedayi San (SUI) Assistant VAR: Lukas Faehndrich (SUI) Scorers: 42' Hojlund, 61' A. Golinucci, 70' Poulsen Booked: Capicchioni, Fabbri, Di Maio, Hojlund, Andersen Attendance: 4,799 spectators

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