This is an England team experiencing a crisis in identity. Morten Hjulmand of Denmark celebrates scoring the equalising goal during Denmark’s UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match against England at Frankfurt Arena on June 20, 2024 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. 

England looked a million miles apart from being European champions with too many square pegs in round holes and too many big stars failing to fire.

Denmark’s Morten Hjulmand, GERMANY – JUNE 20: Celebrates scoring the equalising goal during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage game between Denmark and England at Frankfurt Arena on June 20, 2024 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. 

Middle of the second half of their Group C tie, Gareth Southgate hooked England’s whole forward three, leaving many more questions than answers for the rest of the campaign.

Harry Kane had put England ahead, but he was replaced with the game still on the line just as Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka were. 

Denmark’s point from Morten Hjulmand’s long-range first-half equaliser was the least they were due.

And Foden’s effort was entirely unconvincing when he struck the post early in the second half. 

England is practically guaranteed to make it to the round of sixteen; should they beаt Slovenia in Cologne on Tuesday, they will win this group. 

But with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s central midfield experiment failing terribly, no fit left-back in the squad, and now a debate over all of England’s front three, this is shaping up to be a perplexing campaign. 

Serbia’s draw with Slovenia meant that an England triumph would have guaranteed top spot in the group with one game left, pairing Southgate’s side with a third-placed team in the last 16. 

Southgate chose the same squad as in Sunday’s opening against Serbia, but England started off badly with Trent Alexander-Arnold mostly responsible. 

This midfield effort had as its aim not playing Hollywood passes to Danish players. 

Kyle Walker took front stage when England threatened. First, the right-back squared a pass to Manchester City colleague Phil Foden, who did well to create space for himself before hitting high and wide.

At 18 minutes, the breakthrough came and Danish wing-back Victor Kristiansen experienced a personal horror. 

Walker blue-lighted it along the flank, Kristiansen seemed to be dragging a waggon, and the City guy robbed him as he sat there. 

Walker’s cutback rebounded off Andreas Christensen, letting Kane score from six yards.

In major events, it was the 13th goal of the skipper—three more than any other English player. 

Still, England missed opportunities because of careless passing and defensive pаnic. 

Jordan Pickford had an odd five minutes, letting Christian Eriksen grab the ball from him in the six-yard box, but Alexander-Arnold intercepted before Rasmus Hojlund could score.

The England custodian soon was flailing at a cross, and following an Alexander-Arnold gaffe, Marc Guehi’s attempted clearance was diverted into the net’s roof. 

Denmark passed with much more confidence, and their equaliser was just earned. 

From a Kieran Trippier throw-in deep in England’s half, Kane passed poorly, Kristiansen intercepted, setting up Hjulmand for a 30-yard shot off the post. 

Though Pickford’s shot was not perfect, at that distance he will feel he ought to have saved it.

As the Danish supporters started to execute a Viking thunderclap, triggering terrible memories of Iceland, England grew more restless. 

Foden started to look like Diego Maradona at the Azteca Stadium, but he missed the apparent pass to Kane, clearly agitated, following a great dribble.  

It was a poor 45 minutes, almost matching England’s second half against Serbia. 

Alexander-Arnold gave his finest moment just as Southgate was ready to take his position; the second quarter started with a more vibrant tone. 

Saka, unable to control his dipping long-range pass from the Liverpool player, ran into the side nett. 

In the 54th minute Conor Gallagher replaced Alexander-Arnold, therefore ending the experiment. 

Saka supplied Foden shortly after, who struck the post from outside the area. 

But it started to flee England; a Declan Rice gaffe gave Eriksen an opportunity for a goal, but the Manchester United man blasted wide.

Midway through the second half, Southgate then made a startling triple replacement replacing his top three of Kane, Saka, and Foden with Ollie Watkins, Jarrod Bowen, and Eberechi Eze. 

Not long after Watkins started testing Kasper Schmeichel.

Bellingham first made a good pass; but, the Danish custodian advanced to prevent Watkins using his body. 

England was re-energised when Schmeichel diverted another Watkins shot around the post. 

Still, there were occasional worrisome incidents. Although Rice’s errant throw almost let in Alexander Bah, the outstanding Marc Guehi intercepted.

The Danes closed fiercely, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg looping a shot wide from the edge of the area.