VIDEO: Denmark's Thomas Delaney scores spectacular scorpion kick
A videograb shows Thomas Delaney scoring an audacious scorpion kick.
Denmark could become the first European team to qualify for the 2022 World Cup at this pace.
An impressive 4-0 win in Austria on Wednesday made it a perfect three wins for the Danes in Group F after the first week of the campaign.
Europe’s top-scoring team has netted 14 goals so far — and none by playmaker Christian Eriksen - without allowing an opponent to score against goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
"(Schmeichel) didn’t have a single (save) here or in Israel," Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand told broadcaster Kanal 5. "That’s convincing. That’s strong.”
Denmark is already four points clear, routing Moldova 8-0 between solid away wins against two teams, Israel and Austria, who started last week with realistic hopes of contending. The group runner-up enters a playoff round next year.
Denmark's next opponent in Copenhagen on Sept. 1 is Scotland, which rose to second place in the standings after beating the Faeroe Islands, also by 4-0.
Austria’s players began the evening holding up a long banner that read "Protect Human Rights” while their national anthem played.
They contained Denmark in the first half then were swept away by four goals in a 16-minute spell midway through the second half.
The 21-year-old forward Andreas Olsen scored twice soon after coming on as a substitute to bookend strikes by defender Joakim Maehle and midfielder Pierre-Emile Højbjerg.
Højbjerg’s shot into an unguarded net got a spectacular assist from Martin Braithwaite. The Barcelona forward let the ball run on untouched while leaping to hurdle a wild sliding challenge by Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager far outside the penalty area.
Agencies
