Denmark secured qualification into the knockout stages of the EURO 2020 after defeating Russia 4-1 at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen on Monday night.

The Danish team had a slim chance of making the last 16 after losing their talisman, Christian Eriksen, 40 minutes into the tournament after suffering a cardiac arrest in their opening match which they later lost 1-0 to Finland.

Their second match ended in a 2-1 heartbreak against eventual group winner, Belgium, despite taking the lead early and dominating the best-ranked team of the tournament.

With Eriksen out of the hospital, after he was fitted with a heart starter, the Danish side never gave up and did the unthinkable by defeating Russia who were one leg into the knockout stages having beaten Finland in their previous game.

Mikkel Damsgaard gave Denmark the lead in the 38th minute before Yussuf Poulsen doubled the lead in the 59th minute, leaving the home fans hopeful of qualification, provided Finland lose to Belgium.

Russia were handed a lifeline later in the second half with a penalty that was converted by Artem Dzyuba in the 70th minute but Chelsea’s Andreas Christensen restored Denmark’s two-goal lead nine minutes later.

With eight minutes to the end of regular time, Joakim Mæhle sealed the win for Denmark to move second in the group behind Belgium who defeated Finland by 2-0.