Denmark takes on Serbia in final match of a wide open group at Euro 2024

MUNICH (AP) — Denmark faces Serbia on Tuesday in Munich in their final Group C match. Both teams hope it’s not their last game at the European Championship. Denmark is second in the group, two points below England and level on points with third-placed Slovenia. Serbia is last but has only one less point than Denmark and Slovenia. Kickoff is at 9 p.m. local time (1900 GMT). Here’s what to know about the match:

— Denmark would advance to the round of 16 with a win and would be eliminated if it loses and Slovenia avoids defeat against England.

— If both matches end in a draw, Denmark and Slovenia will be split for second and third on overall goals scored, then disciplinary points, then European Qualifiers rankings. The first two tiebreakers are head-to-head and goal difference but that would stay equal.

— Serbia, which snatched a vital draw against Slovenia on Thursday to keep its hopes alive, will advance if it beats Denmark and Slovenia fails to win against England. It will be out if it draws and Slovenia avoids defeat.

— Other results could leave Serbia scrambling for a calculator and facing an anxious wait to see if it scrapes through as one of the four best third-place teams.

— Denmark midfielder Thomas Delaney has recovered from the illness that kept him out of the match against England.

— Serbia has no new injury concerns but winger Filip Kostic is out after injuring a knee ligament in his team’s opening loss to England.

— There has never been a draw between the two sides. Each has won five of their 10 encounters.

— But four of Denmark’s five wins have come in the last four matches, including a 3-0 victory the last time they met, in March 2022.

— Christian Eriksen has moved level with Simon Kjaer on a Denmark record of 132 national-team games. Kjaer, Denmark’s captain at Euro 2020, was an unused substitute against Slovenia and England as the defender returns to full fitness.

“I feel like I’ve congratulated Christian three of four times for the record. Again tomorrow, he’s setting a milestone. And not only in his career, but in Danish football. … He’s a great player in Danish football history. What can I say? Fantastic guy, fantastic player.” — Denmark midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

“I don’t like boring football. Really, I don’t like. I want to see my team attack, who create chances. I want to see Serbia with the full determination.” — Serbia coach Dragan Stojkovic.

“They have great physical strength in attack. We must minimize their opportunities to cross and get too many set pieces. It’s about being on the ball a lot so that we eliminate their greatest strengths.” — Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand.

AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024

Serbia's Filip Kostic leaves the pitch after being substituted during a Group C match between Serbia and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Sunday, June 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)

Serbia's head coach Dragan Stojkovic reacts after Slovenia scored a goal during a Group C match between Slovenia and Serbia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Munich, Germany, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Serbia's Milos Veljkovic, right, celebrates with teammates his side first goal against Slovenia during a Group C match between Slovenia and Serbia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Munich, Germany, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Serbia's Luka Jovic celebrates after scoring his side first goal during a Group C match between Slovenia and Serbia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Munich, Germany, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Serbia's head coach Dragan Stojkovic reacts after a missed chance to score a goal during a Group C match between Slovenia and Serbia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Munich, Germany, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Denmark's head coach Kasper Hjulmand and players at the end of a Group C match between Denmark and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

Denmark's head coach Kasper Hjulmand gestures after a Group C match between Denmark and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

Serbia's players celebrate their sides first goal against Slovenia during a Group C match between Slovenia and Serbia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Munich, Germany, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Anthony Edwards approached for a handshake during Julius Randle's postgame TV interview, the duo putting a seal on another dominant series for Minnesota in these NBA playoffs.

Randle scored 29 points on 13-for-18 shooting to send the Timberwolves to the Western Conference finals for the second straight year with a 121-110 victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 on Wednesday night.

“I just try to do my best to read the game in the best way I can,” Randle said. “They threw different coverages at us all series long.”

Edwards had 22 points and 12 assists for the sixth-seeded Wolves, who will face the Denver-Oklahoma City winner next. They could get five days off, if the Nuggets beat the Thunder on Thursday to force a Game 7 in the other West semifinal series.

Brandin Podziemski had a playoff career-high 28 points for the Warriors, who again played without star Stephen Curry because of the hamstring strain that forced him out of the second quarter in Game 1 and took the heart out of their entire offensive operation.

“I don’t want to take anything away from what Minnesota just accomplished,” coach Steve Kerr said. “No sense in even talking about Steph.”

Jonathan Kuminga provided another energy boost off the bench with 26 points, but Podziemski’s performance came too late and the production from Jimmy Butler and Buddy Hield was consistently too little after they led the series-opening win.

Golden State presented far more of a defensive challenge than the Los Angeles Lakers did for Minnesota during their five-game series in the first round, but the collection of every-level scorers the Wolves can throw at an opponent when they’re moving the ball and pushing the pace simply wore down the Warriors over the course of the series.

Rudy Gobert was a force around the rim with 17 points, Mike Conley had 16 points and eight assists, and Donte DiVincenzo snapped out of a slump with 13 points as the Wolves shot a staggering 77% on 2-pointers (36 for 47). They set franchise postseason records for assists (36) and field goal percentage (62.8%).

Series close-out games can sometimes be the toughest to win, but the Wolves played with a ferocity paired with their shooting touch that all but portended victory. Randle kept up his superb postseason, providing a constant source of energy and production.

The Wolves stretched their lead as high as 25 points in the third quarter, large enough to withstand a late Warriors push that pulled them to 99-90 with 7:11 left. But Edwards answered with a 3, and the crowd started mixing “Wolves in 5! Wolves in 5!” chants in with the roars for each made basket that got them closer to advancing.

“There is no satisfaction,” Edwards said. “We just got here.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Minnesota Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards celebrates a basket and a foul for Julius Randle in 2nd quarter in NBA Western Conference Semifinals' Game 5 at Target Center in Minneapolis on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.(Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) shoots over Golden State Warriors forward Gui Santos (15) during the second half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) looks on near the bench during the second half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) celebrates after scoring during the second half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors, Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) looks to shoot against Golden State Warriors' Pat Spencer, right, and Buddy Hield, left, during the second half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)