Congo DR and Denmark shared a goalless draw in Liège, a night of rotation at Stade Maurice Dufrasne that left both S. Desabre and J. Jensen still searching for fluency before the summer programme kicks on. The attendance was logged at 23,043, yet the tempo rarely matched that number.
Desabre’s side kept their shape tight without an official formation listed on the match sheet, leaning on the steel of Chancel Mbemba and company to keep the visitors at arm’s length. Denmark mirrored the disciplined approach under Jensen, and for half an hour the contest felt like a sparring exercise scheduled simply to retain rhythm. Only in the 42nd minute did a hint of friction surface, when J. Maehle collected a yellow card for a late challenge that summed up a first half short on incision.
Jensen sought fresh energy straight after the interval, sending on W. Osula for P. Dorgu in the 46th minute as Denmark tried to press higher through the centre. Desabre replied quickly with a double change in the 55th minute, introducing N. Sadiki for E. Kayembe and J. Kayembe for A. Masuaku to preserve balance in the midfield corridors. Neither side managed to turn those switches into territory, but the chess match continued.
The 57th minute ushered in more Danish adjustments, with J. Andersen replacing A. Christensen and V. Froholdt taking over from P. Hojbjerg as Jensen sought fresher legs to feed R. Hojlund. Congo DR recalibrated on 70 minutes when C. Pickel and S. Banza relieved N. Mukau and C. Bakambu, a bid for vertical threat that never quite arrived. When the 74th minute brought K. Hogh on for R. Hojlund alongside A. Gronbaek for C. Eriksen, the sense was of a match drifting toward a talent audition rather than a verdict.
By the 81st minute Denmark had also seen O. Provstgaard depart for L. Hogsberg, while Desabre waited until the 87th minute to send on A. Wan-Bissaka for G. Kalulu and N. Mbuku for Y. Wissa. The final minutes were tidy rather than tense, a clean sheet that pleased both goalkeepers and left the benches with notes about partnerships still to be built.
Jensen and Desabre will take this draw as a reminder that summer friendlies only matter if momentum follows. Denmark turn next to refining combinations before competitive fixtures resume, while Congo DR must decide which of the newcomers can offer the spark that was missing here. For a sense of how other national sides are shaping up this week, check the Poland vs Nigeria recap.
Statistics
- Attendance: 23,043
- Yellow cards: Denmark 1 (J. Maehle 42')
- Denmark substitutions: W. Osula for P. Dorgu 46', J. Andersen for A. Christensen 57', V. Froholdt for P. Hojbjerg 57', K. Hogh for R. Hojlund 74', A. Gronbaek for C. Eriksen 74', L. Hogsberg for O. Provstgaard 81'
- Congo DR substitutions: N. Sadiki for E. Kayembe 55', J. Kayembe for A. Masuaku 55', C. Pickel for N. Mukau 70', S. Banza for C. Bakambu 70', A. Wan-Bissaka for G. Kalulu 87', N. Mbuku for Y. Wissa 87'
