Jan 28, Semifinals: Spain vs. Denmark, New York City, 6:00 PM

vs.

The current European champs from Spain are going up against the reigning world champs from Denmark in the first semifinal. Lately, these two—along with France—have basically been running the show globally. Spain took home titles at UEFA Euro 2020 and back in 2018, while Denmark won the 2021 World Cup and the one in 2019. Still, Spain hasn't really figured out how to beat Denmark since 2015. Denmark actually knocked them out during the 2021 World Cup semifinals and again at the Tokyo Olympic Games. I guess the head-to-head record favors the Scandinavians at 16-7. As for this tournament, both sides have six wins and one loss each; Denmark lost to France, and Spain lost to Norway.

Referees: Slava Nikolov and Gjorgji Nachevski (North Mexico)

a tiny stream

anything less than a five-point loss is basically a win in the eyes of those Spaniards...

Spain’s tactical setup really managed to stifle Dance... They forced them into those isolated one-on-one situations by cutting off any real ball movement, and honestly, that 4-2 defensive structure looked quite solid

Good grief, Landin🙏🙏🙏 if only he were American🤣

I guess the goalie is feeling pretty pumped today 👍

What is a man even doing these days🙏

That’s what you get with that goalie...
We've been shouting about this for years...
Still, Spain is close... even if they have their own nutcases in goal...

I mean, I don't have the exact stats right in front of me, but I’m pretty sure these four national teams have the highest save percentages for goalkeepers when they hit the semifinals..

At the end of the day, the goalie is everything, because you're just not going to pull off any massive results if your save rate is sitting at a measly 15%.

Hansen was pretty rough out there. That was a tough one to watch.

Even with a score of just -1 against Landin, their tactical execution was absolutely brilliant...🙏

I am genuinely impressed by how the Spaniards are handling their defense; they move in perfect unison like an accordion, constantly lurking for that perfect interception. They’ve managed to stifle the tempo, and Denmark has completely stalled because everyone is just waiting to see what Hansen does next, while they leave Gidsel isolated—and he is such a force in one-on-one situations. It is truly relentless...

Individually, they might be a bit of a toy 3 class compared to the opposition, but they are holding their own, and honestly, it just goes to show how much of a difference a great coach can make...

So, this game is kind of a mess right now. I mean, I get that it’s important, but watching all these unforced errors and the complete lack of any actual rhythm is just... ugh, it's pretty pointless. The goalkeepers are basically the only ones doing anything remotely decent, though Hansen is playing like a total amateur compared to how much Mensah is actually holding things together. Did that guy even score a goal this round?

I guess Hansen was actually against the US too; he was absolutely terrible. He basically sold us a pile of junk balls, yet somehow, people still talk about him like he’s some kind of legend. I honestly can't decide who had a worse performance, him or Sagosen.

shadowcobra89 said:Even with a -1 deficit against Landin, their tactics are nothing short of brilliant.🙏

The Spanish defensive movement is impressive; they shift with the fluid precision of an accordion, always hunting for that interception. They’ve successfully throttled the tempo. Denmark has stalled slightly as everyone waits to see what Hansen will orchestrate, while Gidsel is being isolated—and he is formidable in one-on-one situations. It is quite ruthless...

Individually, they might be a notch below the competition, but they hold their ground. Is a great coach not worth more than raw talent?

Indeed, their defense is exceptional. Much like the French during their prime.

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I guess Hansen is basically the heavy hitter for the Spanish squad right now.
😬

It isn't that Hansen is performing poorly, rather it's just that all the pressure seems to be centered on him... The real issue lies elsewhere, specifically with how someone like Lauge struggles to capitalize on the opportunities provided

And that’s precisely why he was ejected while Holm was pulled inside...

slyrider34 said:Hansen was just as much of an adversary to the American team, performing terribly and offloading a collection of subpar balls. Yet, somehow, he continues to be discussed only in superlatives. One has to wonder: who actually had the worse game, him or Sagosen?

He is currently the league's fourth-leading scorer and ranks fifth in assists. Why bother discussing nonsense?
The Spaniards analyzed their performance with perfect precision.

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Damned Romani... you can't ever count them out...🙏

shadowcobra89 said:The Spaniards didn't look like much during the last two Euro tournaments either, yet they still managed to take the trophy. They always seem to be struggling, but in my opinion, they are the only ones truly capable of winning Dance... These seasoned veterans always find a tactical way to stay in the hunt. But if you ask me, their most vital asset is having two goalkeepers who could each win a match single-handedly, and they always step up right when it matters most

To quote them, you can simply never underestimate this team, as they are tactically flawless...

The dancers are starting to lose their rhythm... I guess they're gonna be as stiff as boards soon.