Greece 0-3 Denmark Player Ratings: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg 9.5/10 Rated as Denmark Dominates in 3-0 Victory

Denmark delivered a footballing masterclass at the Stadio Georgios Karaiskáki, dismantling a listless Greece side with a resounding 3-0 victory. This WC Qualification Europe fixture was a one-sided affair from the get-go. Denmark's control was absolute, and it felt like only a matter of time before they broke the deadlock. We watched as they moved the ball with a purpose and intensity that Greece simply couldn't match.

The goals came from Mikkel Damsgaard, Andreas Christensen, and substitute Rasmus Højlund, but the star of the show was undoubtedly Pierre-Emile Højbjerg. He was the conductor of the orchestra, pulling the strings in midfield and providing two crucial assists. From our perspective, his performance was the difference between a simple win and a complete demolition. Greece, on the other hand, looked disjointed and bereft of ideas, a shadow of the team they can be. Their struggles were encapsulated by an error from Dimitrios Kourbelis that led to a goal, a moment that summed up their frustrating evening in this match. Here are the Greece vs Denmark player ratings.

Greece Player Ratings vs Denmark

Here are the Greece player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Konstantinos Tzolakis - 6.0: A tough night for the keeper, but it could have been far worse without him. He was left exposed by his defense for all three goals. What stood out to us were his five saves, a few of which were genuinely impressive stops that prevented an even bigger embarrassment. He recovered the ball nine times, showing his willingness to come off his line. Despite conceding three, he wasn't the primary culprit for this defeat.

Defenders

Georgios Vagiannidis - 5.0: It was a challenging evening for the right-back. He won most of his duels which is a positive, but he looked overwhelmed by Denmark's fluid movement down his flank. He was dribbled past once and lost possession 14 times, which is far too high. We noticed he struggled to provide any meaningful support in attack, with his final ball lacking quality. A performance he'll want to forget quickly.

Konstantinos Koulierakis - 4.5: He really seemed to struggle with the pace and power of Denmark's forwards. The yellow card he picked up just before halftime was born out of frustration. He made a couple of important tackles and clearances, but his two fouls showed a lack of composure at key moments. From our perspective, he never looked comfortable and was often reactive rather than proactive in his defending.

Konstantinos Mavropanos - 5.0: On paper, his passing accuracy of 93% looks impressive, but it felt like a lot of safe, sideways passes. An error leading to a shot is a major black mark against a central defender's name. While he made four clearances and a few tackles, he was part of a defensive unit that was completely pulled apart. He even managed a shot on target, but his primary job was to defend, and the backline was far too porous.

Konstantinos Tsimikas - 6.5: One of the few bright sparks in a dim Greek performance. He created two chances and was a willing runner down the left flank, looking to make things happen. Defensively, he was also solid, winning most of his duels and making nine-ball recoveries. What we saw was a player trying to drag his team forward, but he received very little support. A commendable effort in a losing cause.

Midfielders

Dimitrios Kourbelis - 4.0: A disastrous outing for the midfielder. The error leading directly to a goal was a moment of utter calamity that effectively killed any momentum Greece might have hoped to build. It was a glaring mistake at this level. Beyond that, he was largely anonymous before being substituted after 64 minutes. We were disappointed; you expect much more from a player in that crucial position.

Christos Tzolis - 5.5: He was busy and drew four fouls, showing he was a nuisance to the Danish defense. However, his end product was severely lacking. He lost possession 15 times and his one shot was off target. It felt like he was always on the verge of doing something special but couldn't quite deliver the final pass or shot. A frustrating performance full of effort but little substance.

Christos Zafeiris - 5.0: Another midfielder who was simply overrun. He worked hard, making a couple of tackles and interceptions, but he couldn't get a foothold in the game. An error leading to a shot highlighted his occasional lapses in concentration. He was fighting a losing battle against the superior Danish midfield and was eventually substituted.

Giannis Konstantelias - 4.5: Hooked at halftime, which tells you everything you need to know about his impact. He had only 18 touches in 45 minutes and lost all three of his duels. An error leading to a shot compounded his miserable half. From our perspective, he was completely invisible and offered nothing to his team either offensively or defensively.

Konstantinos Karetsas - 5.0: Like his midfield partner, he was also substituted at halftime. He showed a few flashes of intent, attempting five dribbles, but only completed one. He created one chance but also lost possession 13 times in just one half of football. It was a steep learning curve for the youngster against such a strong opponent.

Forwards

Vangelis Pavlidis - 5.0: A thankless task for the lone striker. He was starved of service and completely isolated for the entire 90 minutes. Being caught offside three times highlighted the disconnect between him and the midfield. He lost seven of his nine duels and looked a dejected figure. It's hard to be too critical when your team offers you absolutely nothing to work with.

Substitutes

Tasos Bakasetas - 5.5: Came on at halftime but couldn't swing the momentum.

Giorgos Masouras - 5.5: Added some energy but Denmark's defense held firm.

Manolis Siopis - 6.0: Brought on to add steel after the second goal, and he did his job reasonably well without changing the game.

Fotis Ioannidis - N/A: Not on long enough to make an impact.

Dimitris Pelkas - N/A: A late change with the game already lost.

Manager

I. Jovanović - 4.0: His team looked tactically naive and unprepared for Denmark's quality. The initial 4-3-3 formation was ineffective, and the double substitution at halftime felt like a desperate measure that failed to pay off. The team lacked a coherent plan and was systematically dismantled. A very poor day at the office for the manager.

Denmark Player Ratings vs Greece

Here are the Denmark player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Kasper Schmeichel - 6.5: Had one of the quietest nights of his career. He only had one save to make, a comfortable stop from a header. His distribution was decent enough, but he was largely a spectator as his teammates dominated proceedings. An easy clean sheet.

Defenders

Joachim Andersen - 8.0: A colossal performance at the back. He was an absolute rock, making a staggering 10 clearances and winning most of his duels. What stood out to us was his aerial dominance and his reading of the game. He even got forward and tested the keeper with a couple of headers. A commanding display from the centre-back.

Joakim Mæhle - 7.0: A solid and reliable performance. The yellow card for handball was a minor blemish on an otherwise clean sheet. He was tidy in possession and contributed well both defensively and going forward. He didn't do anything spectacular, but he didn't need to. He just did his job effectively and with minimal fuss.

Andreas Christensen - 9.0: A near-perfect performance. He scored a fantastic goal from outside the box, a strike any forward would be proud of. His passing was immaculate, completing 94% of his attempts, and he was imperious defensively, with four clearances and three tackles. He read the game beautifully, and from our perspective, he was a strong contender for man of the match.

Rasmus Kristensen - 7.5: An excellent all-round display from the full-back. He was defensively sound, winning all of his tackles and making crucial interceptions. Going forward, he was a constant outlet, completing two dribbles and putting in good work in the final third. A very composed and impressive showing.

Midfielders

Victor Froholdt - 7.0: A very lively and energetic performance. He was unlucky to hit the woodwork and will be disappointed to have missed a big chance. He was always involved, looking to create and get into dangerous positions. His decision-making could have been better at times, but his energy was infectious.

Morten Hjulmand - 8.0: The unsung hero in midfield. He did the dirty work with incredible efficiency, recovering the ball 10 times and winning eight duels. His passing was crisp and kept the play ticking over, allowing the more creative players to shine. A disciplined and intelligent performance that laid the foundation for Denmark's dominance.

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg - 9.5: Simply sensational. This was a midfield masterclass from the captain. He ran the show from start to finish, providing two sublime assists and creating four chances in total. His work rate was immense, with 11 ball recoveries, and he controlled the tempo of the entire match. An absolutely outstanding, highest-rated player performance that single-handedly tore Greece apart.

Forwards

Andreas Skov Olsen - 7.5: A constant threat before his substitution. He created two chances, including one big chance, and was a key part of Denmark's attacking thrust in the first hour. He linked up play intelligently and his movement caused the Greek defence all sorts of problems. A very effective contribution.

Mikkel Damsgaard - 8.5: Scored a brilliant opening goal that set the tone for the match. He was a livewire throughout, demonstrating fantastic dribbling and creativity. Recovering the ball 12 times shows his incredible work rate off the ball as well. He was a nightmare for the Greek defenders to handle until he was substituted late on.

Mika Biereth - 6.5: He worked hard and occupied the central defenders well, but he will be ruing the big chance he missed in the first half. He showed good movement and drew fouls, but lacked that clinical edge in front of goal. A decent shift, but he was rightly replaced by the more potent Højlund.

Substitutes

Rasmus Højlund - 8.0: The perfect impact sub. Came on and immediately scored with a poacher's finish, showing his predatory instincts.

Patrick Dorgu - 7.0: Looked dangerous and energetic after coming on.

Jacob Bruun Larsen - 6.5: Added fresh legs and created a chance late on.

Riley - N/A: A late sub to see out the game.

Albert Grønbæk - N/A: Not enough time to warrant a rating.

Manager

B. Riemer - 9.0: His game plan was executed to perfection. His team was well-drilled, tactically superior, and ruthless in front of goal. The decision to bring on Rasmus Højlund paid off instantly. He can be incredibly proud of how his team controlled the game and secured such a dominant win away from home.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Pierre-Emile Højbjerg