World Cup 2026: Denmark Looking for a Greek Double

Denmark vs Greece

Parken is the place to be on Sunday when the World Cup 2026 qualifiers match between Denmark and Greece is the entertainment on offer for the Danish locals and Greek travellers.  

Denmark boss Brian Riemer, a former assistant to Thomas Frank at Brentford, took over as head coach in 2024. And this year, he led the Danes to the Nations League quarter-finals for the first time, and now he has his sights set on the World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the USA next year. 

The Danes are fresh from a thumping 6-0 victory away to Belarus on Thursday night, while Greece slumped to a 3-1 defeat in Scotland. And just over a month ago, Denmark plundered a 3-0 win in Piraeus. Greece boss Ivan Jovanovic has work to do if his team is to claw its way back into contention, having dropped to third place in Group C and four points behind joint leaders Denmark and Scotland.

The World Cup 2026 betting odds say Jovanovic’s men will suffer another tragedy on Sunday, and the State of Denmark will be celebrating another victory.   

 

Talking Points

Denmark rack up the goals

With Scotland snapping at their heels in Group C, Denmark did themselves a huge favour with a 6-0 win away to Belarus on Thursday night, a result which takes them five goals clear of the Scots. Riemer’s men have the quality to pull away at the top of the group but, with only three more rounds to play that goal difference could be worth a point when the action ends.  

Goals from Mikkel Damsgaard, Andrea Christensen, and Rasmus Hojlund, now at Napoli,  gave Denmark the win over Greece. The rejuvenated Hojlund picked up another two goals as the Danes pillaged Belarus with brutality and efficiency – fantastic entertainment for the visiting fans and neutrals but a tough watch for the Belarusians.

Victor Froholdt opened the floodgates with just 14 minutes on the clock, and Hojlund struck five minutes later and again just before the break, and his former Manchester United teammate Patrick Dorgu made it four on the cusp of halftime. 

San Diego FC winger Anders Dreyer scored a second-half brace to complete the rout. With 24 shots on goal, his manager will have been delighted with the intensity of his attacking unit, which also boasts Christian Eriksen as a creative midfielder, now plying his trade at Wolfsburg.

If Denmark need to repel a Greek attack, Fulham defender Joachim Andersen is a quality operator at the heart of defence that is yet to concede a goal in qualifying. And while  Spain are the favourites to win the 2026 World Cup, Denmark will be a force to be reckoned with, assuming they are there, and certainly a nation I’d expect to navigate the group stage in the States.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. First, they need to finish the job of qualification, and I think they’ll take another big step on Sunday.

 

Greek tragedy in Scotland

While the Danes were having a party in Belarus, it was more of a wake in Scotland for the sorry Greeks, who managed to throw away a lead in spectacular fashion after Roma wing-back Kostas Tsimikas had scored just after half-time. With 67-per cent possession and 15 shots to eight, the Greeks dominatedthe game, but they capitulated as Scotland scored three times through Ryan Christie, Lewis Ferguson, and Lyndon Dykes. 

Now the Greeks’ big players need to put in a performance. Captained by midfield ace Anastasios Bakasetas and with Sevilla keeper Odysseas Vlachodimos as the last line of defence, the visitors will look to Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis to add to his 10 international goals when they break.    

And Denmark fans will look out for 28-year-old centre-back Pantelis Chatzidiakos, who is a popular player in Copenhagen, signing for the club on loan in 2024 and making that move permanent this year.  

 

History

As 1992 European champions and with six World Cup finals under their belts, including a quarter-final appearance in 1998, Denmark know how to go deep into a competition, and they are strong favourites to qualify from this group. Greece also has a history with three World Cup finals appearances, and they were European champions in 2004.      

Denmark have won six of their last ten meetings with Greece, including that 3-0 victory last month, while there have been three draws and a solitary Greek victory, a 2-1 World Cup qualification fixture back in 2005.    

Denmark have won five matches, drawn one, and lost one in 2025, while Greece have won four and lost three.   

 

Betting Tip

I expect the World Cup 2026 highlights will be well worth a watch, with the buoyant hosts scoring for fun and the visitors, with revenge in mind and a desperate need for points.

The draw is at SBOTOP odds of 3.80, and Greece can be backed at 5.15 to pick up a shock win, but I’m with the Danes.

   

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