Denmark 4, Russia 1

After scoring a goal to help Denmark advance at the European Championship, Joakim Maehle walked straight to a TV camera and formed a “10” with his fingers.

That was for Christian Eriksen.

Maehle's 82nd-minute goal put some extra gloss on a 4-1 win over Russia on Monday that gave Denmark second place in Group B and an automatic spot in the round of 16.

After Eriksen’s collapse in the first game and the team's two subsequent losses at home, Denmark finally was able to celebrate in front of their raucous and jubilant supporters at Parken Stadium.

“If anyone deserves this, it’s our players,” Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand said. “I can’t imagine how they managed to come back from what they went through. So big credit to the boys.”

Eriksen — who wears No. 10 for the national team — suffered cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated with a defibrillator. He was released from the hospital on Friday.

Denmark, Russia and Finland all finished with three points, but the Danes had the better goal difference. Belgium won the group with nine points, capping it off with a 2-0 win over Finland.

Now a meeting with Wales awaits Denmark in Amsterdam on Saturday. And a tournament that so nearly began with a tragedy could still turn into a triumph.

Given all the team’s earlier misfortune, perhaps it was fitting that they were helped by a massive gift this time. After Mikkel Damsgaard put Denmark ahead in the 38th minute with a looping shot from outside the area, Yussuf Poulsen made it 2-0 in the 59th by pouncing on a massive defensive error. Roman Zobnin tried to play a back pass to his goalkeeper but instead gave the ball straight to the Denmark forward, who could put it into an empty net.

“Every now and then you get lucky, and the ball just lands right where you're standing,” Poulsen said. “I think it's the first time in my life I didn't track back, and then I'm handed a gift.”

Russia only needed a draw to advance and Artem Dzyuba got the visitors back in the match when he made it 2-1 from the penalty spot in the 70th.

However, Andreas Christensen netted from outside the area in the 79th and Maehle finished off a quick counter to put the game beyond doubt.

Russia had frustrated Denmark for much of the first half with its defensive tactics. But Damsgaard — who came into the starting lineup in Eriksen's absence — produced the opener when he collected a pass from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, took one touch to create some space and unleashed a shot that sailed into the top corner.

The 20-year-old Damsgaard became Denmark's youngest scorer at a European Championship.

The game then opened up considerably after the break as Russia had no choice but to push forward.

“The second goal basically came out of nowhere and it did not give us much cause for optimism,” Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov said. “Then we allowed two counterattacks and we paid for those with two goals.”

Russia's penalty came when Jannik Vestergaard tripped Alexander Sobolev in the area and Dzyuba slotted the spot kick straight down the middle.

Christensen had only scored one international goal before — in 2017 — but ended Russia's hopes of a comeback by firing in a rising long-distance shot when the ball fell to him shortly after goalkeeper Matvei Safonov had made a double save.

The Chelsea defender also paid tribute to Eriksen by forming a “10” with his fingers — and performed a self-mocking celebration by putting his hands to his ears.

“It’s an internal joke we have,” Christensen said. “They call me the guy with the big ears.”

After the final whistle, the whole Danish team formed a circle at the center of the field to follow the last minutes of the Belgium game before doing a lap of honor in front of their serenading supporters.

“It’s a relief," Maehle said, "and a redemption.”

Belgium 2, Finland 0

Three straight wins, seven goals and its top players with game time in their legs.

For Belgium, the group stage at the European Championship could hardly have gone better.

The world’s top-ranked team beat Finland to finish in first place in Group B and join Italy and the Netherlands in qualifying with maximum points.

Finland finished in third place in its first appearance at a major tournament, nipped by Denmark after its 4-1 victory over Russia in Copenhagen.

Belgium's second goal, scored by Romelu Lukaku in the 81st minute for his third at Euro 2020, could prove significant because it left the Finns as the worst third-place team in the three completed groups. They have only a small chance of qualifying as one of four best third-place finishers.

That didn't stop a vocal section of white-and-blue-clad Finland supporters from staying behind long after the final whistle at Saint Petersburg Stadium to serenade their team. The players eventually came out of their locker room and back onto the field to applaud.

“I feel somewhat empty at the moment,” Finland coach Markku Kanerva.

Finland was on its way to the draw that would have secured the team second place in the group when goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky had the misfortune of scoring a cruel own-goal in the 74th minute. A header from Belgium defender Thomas Vermaelen bounced down and hit the post, rebounded onto the outstretched hand of Hradecky, and went over the line before he had chance to scoop it away.

Hradecky fell to his knees in anguish.

Belgium will play one of the four third-place finishers in the round of 16 in Sevilla on Sunday, with coach Roberto Martinez having more options after seeing Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Axel Witsel — three key players — proving their fitness after recent injuries.

De Bruyne came off in second-half stoppage time — during which period a woman ran onto the field of play before being quickly escorted away — after having set up Lukaku for his goal, which saw the striker turn his marker inside the area and shoot low and right-footed past Hradecky.

The Manchester City midfielder, back playing after facial injuries sustained in the Champions League final, also supplied the corner which Vermaelen headed toward goal for the opener and generally ran the game from central midfield.

Hazard and Witsel played the whole game after their own fitness issues, while Martinez was also able to rest first-choice players like midfielder Youri Tielemans and defenders Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen.

“Three wins, three professional performances, three different styles,” Martinez said, referring to previous wins in the group over Russia (3-0) and Denmark (2-1).

“To be able to see 90 minutes from Axel and Eden, and Kevin was almost on the pitch for 90 minutes, that was very satisfying. On top of that, every outfield player has been on the pitch in these three games. It is the perfect moment to go forward to the next game.”

The match in St. Petersburg was billed as the biggest in Finland’s history by Kanerva and some of the team’s fans were in tears during the pre-game national anthem.

A drummer in one section of the Finland supporters kept up the beat throughout the game and there was a huge roar when the halftime whistle was blown, with their team coping fairly comfortably.

Belgium hadn’t pushed too hard by then, knowing a draw guaranteed first place, but Lukaku thought he had scored in the 65th minute when he collected a pass, again from De Bruyne, and slotted home a finish from 10 meters.

It was ruled out after a video review by a marginal offside call, prompting a huge roar from the Finland fans, many of whom threw bottles toward — but not onto — the field.

They were soon to be disappointed by the two late goals Belgium scored, with Lukaku's putting him tied with Cristiano Ronaldo, Georginio Wijnaldum and Patrick Schick with a tournament-leading three goals.

“Romelu is our not-so-secret weapon,” De Bruyne said. “When he's in the box, I know exactly where he is, I know exactly where to find him. It becomes difficult for defender to get in front of him — he's huge.”