Denmark U17 opened the Euro with a victory against Montenegro in Tallinn
The Denmark under-17 national team successfully opened its campaign at the final tournament of the UEFA Euro U17 2026 in Estonia, defeating Montenegro 2:1 in the first-round match of Group B. The match was played on May 26 at Kadrioru Stadium in Tallinn, and UEFA confirmed that the goals for Denmark were scored by Mikkel Bro Hansen in the 20th minute and Omran Khatar in the 76th minute. Montenegro equalised near the end of the first half through Mark Đokaj, but that goal was not enough for a point in its historic first appearance at the final tournament of the European Championship in this age category. Denmark thus took three important points in a group that also includes Italy and France, while Montenegro will look for a way to catch up with the leaders in the continuation of the competition.
According to UEFA's report from the first round, the match was tight, but Denmark had more concreteness in the key moments. Danish captain Mikkel Bro Hansen put his team in front after 20 minutes of play, but Montenegro found an answer before the break. Mark Đokaj used Petar Vujović's pass and scored in the 38th minute for 1:1, keeping the debutant national team at the final tournament fully in the match. The decisive moment came in the 76th minute, when Mads Jørgensen broke through down the left side and set up a chance for Omran Khatar, who scored for the final 2:1.
Montenegro came back, but Denmark had the final word
Denmark entered the match with the role of a national team that has more experience at the final stages of UEFA's younger competitions, but Montenegro showed why it achieved a significant result by qualifying among the eight best European U17 selections. After Denmark's early lead, the Montenegrin team did not fall apart, but tried to establish balance and waited for the moment that restored uncertainty to the scoreline. Đokaj's goal in the 38th minute also carried symbolic weight because it brought Montenegro its first goal at the U17 Euro final tournament. UEFA states in the match summary that the goal came after a well-measured ball from Vujović, confirming that it was not merely a reaction to an opponent's mistake, but a well-constructed move.
In the second half the result remained open for a long time, and both national teams had reasons to remain cautious. Denmark had to find a way through the Montenegrin defence again, while Montenegro could build confidence on the fact that it had come back from behind. The decisive Danish move arrived fourteen minutes before the end of regular time. Jørgensen, according to UEFA's description, created space on the left flank with individual quality and served Khatar, and the Danish forward turned that moment into the goal that decided the match. Montenegro tried to avoid defeat until the end, but the score no longer changed.
Statistics confirm Denmark's territorial initiative
The available statistical data confirm that Denmark had the greater share of attacking initiative during the match. UEFA states in its official statistics that Denmark had seven attempts on goal, while Montenegro ended the match with four attempts. Denmark also had three corner kicks, and Montenegro two. In the disciplinary part the match was calm because UEFA's basic statistics record neither yellow nor red cards. Such a match profile points to a competitively firm, but not overly rough match, in which the decision came down to the quality of finishing, and not to major interruptions of rhythm.
Additional data from the specialised service Flashscore provide a broader picture of the balance of power. According to that source, Denmark had 73 percent possession, 21 total shots and four big chances, while Montenegro had 27 percent possession, 10 total shots and one big chance. Flashscore also listed expected goals, 2.27 for Denmark and 0.96 for Montenegro, suggesting that Denmark's victory was in line with the amount of chances created. Still, the final 2:1 shows that Montenegro managed to keep the match close in terms of the result almost until the very end. For the young Montenegrin national team, that can be an important signal before the remaining two matches in the group.
Group B immediately showed how demanding it will be
The match between Montenegro and Denmark was part of the first round of Group B, which also includes France and Italy. UEFA announced that Italy defeated France 1:0 in the other match on the same day, meaning that Denmark and Italy took the top of the group after the opening round with three points each. Such an outcome puts additional pressure on Montenegro and France ahead of the second round, because defeat in the next match can seriously reduce the chances of reaching the semi-finals. Eight national teams take part in the final tournament format, arranged in two groups, and UEFA states that the two best teams from each group advance to the knockout stage. Because of that, every match in the group carries great weight, especially in a group with a small number of rounds.
The schedule further emphasises the importance of Denmark's start. According to the official tournament schedule, Montenegro play Italy in the second round on May 29 at Kalevi Keskstaadion, while Denmark play France on the same day at Kadrioru Stadium. The final round of Group B is scheduled for June 1, when Denmark and Italy meet, as well as France and Montenegro. If the results in the second round align with the opening standings, the final round could decide first place, but also the second traveller to the semi-finals. Montenegro therefore remain in contention, but after the defeat against Denmark they need points against opponents who, by reputation and qualifying path, are among the most demanding at the tournament.
The tournament is being played in Estonia for the first time
The final tournament of the UEFA Euro U17 2026 is being held from May 25 to June 7 in Estonia. UEFA states that Estonia is organising and at the same time appearing at the final tournament of the European Championship for footballers under 17 for the first time. The host cities are Tallinn and Rakvere, and the matches are being played at Lilleküla Stadium, Kadrioru Stadium, Kalevi Keskstaadion and Rakvere linnastaadion. In its official information about the tournament, the Estonian Football Association states that the semi-finals will be played on June 4, and the final on June 7 at Lilleküla Stadium in Tallinn. Local time in Estonia is one hour ahead of Central European Time, which UEFA uses in part of the schedule.
Group A consists of Estonia, Belgium, Croatia and Spain, while Group B includes Montenegro, France, Italy and Denmark. In the first round of Group A, Belgium defeated Croatia 2:0, and Spain beat Estonia 4:1. After the first round, UEFA highlighted that victories were achieved by Denmark, Italy, Spain and Belgium, which means that after the opening matches the first favourites to reach the semi-finals have already been indicated. Still, the short competition format leaves little room for mistakes and can quickly change the standings, especially if the defeated teams achieve victories in the second round.
Montenegro's debut on the big U17 stage
For Montenegro, the appearance in Estonia is especially important because it is the first qualification of that national team for the UEFA Euro U17 final tournament. In the participant preview, UEFA stated that Montenegro is one of the debutant national teams of this edition, alongside host Estonia. Such a result has developmental importance for the national football system because it shows that the generation of players born in 2009 and later managed to break through the qualifying system to the final tournament. Although defeat to Denmark brings no points, the performance in which the team came back after conceding a goal and remained competitive until the final minutes can be a basis for the continuation of the tournament.
UEFA's participant overview also recalls that Denmark had more visible results at this level in previous editions, including an appearance in the 2025 finals and earlier entries into the semi-finals in 2011 and 2024. That does not make Denmark's victory a surprise, but it gives it additional value because it was achieved in a group in which every point counts against very strong opponents. Denmark showed the ability not to lose control of the match after the equaliser, but to reach the winning goal through changes and individual moves. For a youth national team, such a mental reaction is often as important as technical quality.
Denmark got the points, Montenegro proved it is not among the best by chance
The 2:1 result gives Denmark a favourable starting position ahead of the match with France. Victory in the first round enables them to control a large part of their own destiny in the continuation of the group, although the matches with France and Italy will be different challenges. The Danish staff can be satisfied that the team created more chances, had greater control of the ball and found a solution after Montenegro came back into the match. Especially important was the role of players from the bench in the decisive move, because the tournament format often rewards squad depth and the ability to change the rhythm in the closing stages of matches.
Montenegro, on the other hand, do not have the points return they would have wanted, but they have enough elements from this match that they can transfer into their next appearances. Đokaj's goal, the organised reaction after the early deficit and the fact that the match remained open until the late stage give the team a realistic foundation for preparing the duel with Italy. In a short tournament, a moral impression does not replace points, but it can help a national team that is encountering this level of competitive pressure for the first time. If Montenegro want to remain in the fight for the semi-finals, the match on May 29 against Italy will be one of the key points of their debut appearance.
The broader significance of the tournament for the 2009 and younger generation
The UEFA Euro U17 is traditionally a competition where players are monitored before their entry into senior or professional football at a higher level. The 2026 edition brings together national teams composed of players who belong to a younger development cycle, and the tournament in Estonia gives them an opportunity to play in matches under the pressure of results, travel, short recovery and international attention. For associations that invest in the development of younger categories, such matches are not only a question of the current result, but also a test of the work of academies, coaching staffs and national selection programmes.
In that context, Denmark's victory over Montenegro has double value. It is important in terms of results because it brings three points in Group B, but it is also developmentally relevant because it shows how a young team copes with a match in which it took the lead, then lost the advantage, and then again found a way to win. Montenegro, despite the defeat, gained experience that no friendly match can replace. The continuation of the group will show whether that experience can be turned into points, while Denmark enter the match with France with confirmation that they have solutions even in matches that are decided in the final fifteen minutes or so.
Sources:
- UEFA – official data on the Montenegro U17 – Denmark U17 match, stadium, referees and result (link)
- UEFA – UEFA Euro U17 2026 first-round report with a description of the goals and the course of the match (link)
- UEFA – official schedule, results, groups and format of the final tournament (link)
- UEFA – information about the UEFA Euro U17 2026 finals in Estonia, stadiums and competition system (link)
- Estonian Football Association – official information about hosting, cities, stadiums and the tournament schedule (link)
- Flashscore – additional match statistics, including possession, total shots, expected goals and attendance data (link)