Denmark players celebrate their second goal. AFP

Gulf Today Report 

Kasper Dolberg scored a brace to steer Denmark into the quarterfinals with a 4-0 victory over a hapless Wales on Saturday.

The former Ajax playmaker was on the target on the either side of the half-time. He broke the deadlock in the 27 minute to put Denmark ahead 1-0.

Wales tried to restore the parity but they failed to convert their chances into goal. At the half-time Demark were leading by 1-0. Wales had advanced to the knockout stage despite a lost against group leaders Italy.

Soon after the break, Dolberg paid back for the faith of the coach in him as he added one more soon after the half-time to make it 2-0.

Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand gave Dolberg his first start of the tournament and he lived up to the expectation of the coach, cementing his place in the starting line-up.

Joakim Maele scored the third goal in the 88th minute and Martin Braithwaite added the fourth in injury time.

Denmark has ridden a wave of emotion through the tournament since playmaker Christian Eriksen suffered cardiac arrest in the team’s opening group match and had to be resuscitated with a defibrillator.

Denmark will play either the Netherlands or the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals in Baku on Saturday.

The winners will advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament.

Wales finished as runners-up to Italy in their group before the Danes made a comeback from two defeats to finish behind Belgium in Group B.

Wales and their star Gareth Bale are dreaming of a repeat of their run to the Euro 2016 semi-finals while Denmark team is still coming to terms with Christian Eriksen’s on-field cardiac arrest. 

The Danes are looking to win a knockout tie at the European Championship for the first time since they lifted the trophy in 1992.