Denmark 6
Rasmussen 9, 74; Agger 11 pen, 39 pen; Bjelland 28; Nielsen 85;
Malta 0
Four goals down at half-time, fears of a humiliating defeat for Malta loomed large yesterday.
Malta had harboured aspirations of making amends for their meek capitulation to the Czech Republic last week but Denmark’s start left our players gasping for breath.
On the eve of Malta’s final 2014 World Cup qualifier in Copenhagen, coach Pietro Ghedin declared: “Worse than the last game (the 4-1 defeat to the Czech Republic) we can’t play.” He was wrong.
Two quickfire goals inside the opening 11 minutes exacerbated Malta’s already arduous task as fear crept into the white-shirted players.
The perpetual failings that earned our nation the undesirable tag of the whipping boys of European football in the past resurfaced as Malta were out-of-sorts, lacking cohesion, surrendering possession too easily and unable to string more than three passes together.
Just when it looked as though Malta had taken their game to the next level, such optimism has been brusquely shattered as the national team have conceded 10 goals in their last two outings.
This performance harked back to the days when Malta suffered one humiliation after another.
It was all negative as the defence creaked in the face of Denmark’s relentless pressure, especially on the left wing where Clayton Failla and Edward Herrera endured a torrid time.
The midfield lacked bite despite Rowen Muscat’s efforts to press his opponents, while the two front men, Andrè Schembri and Michael Mifsud, were isolated figures.
Denmark peppered Malta’s goal throughout the game as goalkeeper Justin Haber had his work cut out. He was at fault in Denmark’s third goal but then redeemed himself with a string of fine saves.
An erstwhile positive campaign ended on a deflating note last night and this defeat is likely to force coach Ghedin and the Malta FA back to the drawing board.
Coming only hours after the Malta U-21 team had succumbed to a 4-0 home defeat to Greece, the 6-0 upset completed a bad day for Maltese football.
Friday’s 2-2 draw against Italy all but scuppered Denmark’s hopes of booking a play-off berth, reducing this match to a formality.
The lack of interest was manifested in the low turn-out as several sections of the Parken Stadium remained closed.
Before the game, Denmark captain Daniel Agger presented flowers to Michael Mifsud after the Malta skipper played his 100th appearance in international football last week.
Ghedin refused to gamble on Luke Dimech’s fitness and with Jonathan Caruana also sidelined, the coach had to reshape his defence as Ryan Camilleri moved into the centre to flank Andrei Agius.
Failla reverted to left-back and Alex Muscat switched to right-back.
Roderick Briffa and Rowen Muscat were again assigned shielding duties in front of defence with Herrera, back after recuperating from hamstring trouble, on the left wing and John Mintoff doubling up with Alex Muscat on the right.
Schembri, available after seeing out a one-match ban, took up his customary position behind Mifsud.
Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, the son of Denmark and Manchester United great Peter Schmeichel, was among the six ‘newcomers’ in Olsen’s line-up.
Morten Rasmussen, of FC Midtylland, was Denmark’s central forward with Michael Krohn-Dehli, of Celta Vigo, and OB’s Emil Larsen on the wings.
Denmark tore out of the blocks.
Peter Ankersen glided past Herrera and Failla before dragging in a cross that was met by Rasmussen but his header was blocked by Haber.
Denmark kept pushing forward.
It was not long before their relentless pressure produced a goal as, after eight minutes, Larsen cut into the box from the left. His cross flew towards Ramussen whose header drew a brave save from Haber but the Denmark forward flicked home from the rebound.
Malta’s predicament deepened two minutes later. Their troubles to deal with Denmark’s swift incursions down the flanks were laid bare as Krohn-Dehli surged clear before going down under Mintoff’s tackle.
Macedonian referee Aleksandar Stavrev pointed to the spot despite Malta claims that the foul had occurred outside the box.
Agger drilled his shot past Haber to put Denmark 2-0 ahead.
Camilleri did well to block a potentially dangerous shot from Christian Eriksen before a cross by Krohn-Dehli was cleared with some difficulty by the Malta defence.
Denmark’s early flurry abated, enabling Malta to catch breath but the hosts remained in control, Rasmussen hitting wide after a probing run by Eriksen.
Agius then rescued Malta from another potentially menacing situation as he threw his body in the way of Eriksen’s cross but, from the corner, Denmark increased their lead.
Krohn-Dehli flicked the ball into the path of Ankersen whose cross from the right eluded Haber and Bjelland was on the right spot to head into the unguarded net.
Malta fashioned their first shot at goal 11 minutes from half-time when Failla’s piledriver was pushed over the bar by Schmeichel.
At the other end, Malta survived another scare. Profiting from some hesitant defending, Rasmussen retrieved possession inside the box but his grounder grazed the far post.
Six minutes from half-time, Denmark made it 4-0. They were awarded a second penalty after Agius was adjudged to have hauled down Larsen in the box. This time, Agger beat Haber with a low drive.
The Malta keeper then denied Denmark a fifth goal with a point-blank save from Rasmussen.
Ghedin cut a forlorn figure in the technical area as Denmark continued to tear his team apart but, to his credit, the Italian didn’t seek the relative comfort of the dug-out.
Three minutes into the second half, Haber produced a fine save to tip William Kvist’s effort over the bar.
Malta managed to muster a good move involving Briffa, Mifsud and Herrera but the latter’s cross sailed straight towards Schmeichel.
Outrun and outclassed in the opening half, Malta showed signs of improvement after the change of ends.
Not much happened for the next 25 minutes before Denmark worked up a head of steam.
They went 5-0 up 15 minutes from time when Rasmussen stroked the ball home from close in after Larsen’s cross-shot had rolled into the Danish striker’s path. This after Haber had pushed away a shot by Larsen.
In a rare Maltese foray inside Denmark’s half, Mifsud fought his way through but his grounder ended past the far post.
Schmeichel then stopped a shot by Briffa who had been teed up by Rowen Muscat.
Nine minutes from time, Malta had a good chance to score a consolation goal as Herrera released Mifsud who ran forward unimpeded but dithered and Thomas Delaney nudged the ball away with a last-gasp tackle.
Schmeichel then saved Schembri’s header from Failla’s cross but, from their next attack, Denmark struck their sixth.
Krohn-Dehli dissected our defence with a through-ball to Nicki Nielsen, on as a substitute, and the Rosenborg forward clipped the ball past Haber.
Sensing their team’s determination to score more goals, shouts of ‘Denmark, Denmark’ echoed around the stadium before the home crowd stood up in unison to applaud their players.
Aftermatch comments
“Denmark were too strong for,” Malta coach Pietro Ghedin said.
“They wanted to finish runners-up in this group and they achieved their goal. This was not a good result for us but I’m not too disappointment because at this moment Denmark are clearly superior to Malta.
“In fact, before this game I thought the Czechs were the second-best team in this group but today Denmark played a great game and showed they deserved to finish runners-up.”
Morten Olsen, the Denmark coach, said: “When we played Malta away we found it difficult as the pitch made a big difference and we could not pass the ball freely.
“Tonight, however, we could play our usual game and we showed that. The attitude of my team after the Italy game was great... pity that my young side is not going to Brazil next year.”
Denmark
K. Schmeichel, P. Ankersen, A. Bjelland, D. Agger, T. Delaney, C. Sloth (65 L. Andreasen), W. Kvist, C. Eriksen (53 K. Kusk), M. Krohn-Dehli, E. Larsen, M. Rasmussen (75 N.B. Nielsen).
Malta
J. Haber, A. Muscat, A. Agius, C. Failla, R. Briffa, M. Mifsud, E. Herrera (82 R. Fenech), A. Schembri, J. Mintoff, R. Muscat, R. Camilleri.
Referee: Aleksandar Stavrev (Macedonia).
Yellow cards: Mintoff; Agius; Agger.
Attendance: 11,479.
Malta players’ ratings
Haber-5.5, A. Muscat-5, Agius-5.5, Failla-4, Briffa-4, Mifsud-5, Herrera-4, Schembri-4, Mintoff-4, R. Muscat-5.5, Camilleri-5.