Denmark claimed second place in Group B with a devastating display of attacking football and an exhilarating 4-1 victory against Russia in Copenhagen.
Russia made a positive start and were nearly rewarded as Aleksandr Golovin dribbled through the centre of the Denmark defence from halfway, Kasper Schmeichel having to get down smartly to keep out his low drive.
The Danes were not without a threat of their own, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg sending a shot whistling just past the post, before the same midfielder picked out Mikkel Damsgaard on the edge of the area in the 38th minute. One touch to his right and the Sampdoria man unleashed a fine curling effort that Matvei Safonov could only watch fly into his net.
Denmark needed more than one goal, and continued to push forward into the second half. They received a helping hand from Roman Zobnin, whose loose pass was tapped in by Yussuf Poulsen for the second goal. However, Danish hopes were back in the balance as Aleksandr Sobolev went down under Jannik Vestergaard’s challenge and Artem Dzyuba smashed in the penalty to make the score 2-1.
Undeterred, Denmark began to throw everything forward with increasing desperation that was rewarded when Russia could only clear as far as Andreas Christensen, whose first-time effort from 30 metres fairly flew into the net.
Joakim Maehle made it 4-1 three minutes later as he danced into the penalty box and fired past the Russian goalkeeper.
The Danes embraced each other at full-time, just nine days after team-mate Christian Eriksen collapsed on the same pitch in their tournament opener against Finland.
After suffering cardiac arrest Eriksen has since been discharged from hospital but the toll of an emotional last week was clear to see in Denmark’s players at full-time.
Denmark head into the last 16 full of confidence with Wales awaiting next on Saturday, 26 June in Amsterdam.
Elsewhere, Belgium confirmed their place in the UEFA EURO 2020 round of 16 as Group B winners after breaking down stubborn Finland with a 2-0 win.
After a goalless first half, Belgium thought they had made the breakthrough after the half-hour mark, but a Romelu Lukaku effort was ruled offside.
The world’s number-one ranked side dominated proceedings in St Petersburg but only led through a late own goal from Finland keeper, Lukas Hradecky. Hradecky spilled the ball into his own net after Thomas Vermaelen’s shot ricocheted back at him off the goalpost.
Hope of a comeback soon faded, with Lukaku thumping in his third goal of the tournament after a neat turn inside the penalty area.
Belgium’s win also means England, the Czech Republic, Sweden and France are guaranteed to progress even if they drop to third because they all have four points already.
Finland slipped from second in Group B to third by virtue of Denmark’s 4-1 win over Russia in Copenhagen and they must now wait to see whether they qualify as one of the four best third-placed teams.
