With distractions off the pitch, and a lack of goals on it, the Danes must overcome a bouncing Socceroos to qualify
On the pitch Denmark need goals, pure and simple, and it seems Hjulmand is yet to land on his strongest combination – one that does not require a clone of his standout player but instead brings out the best in the one he has.
Hjulmand says Eriksen is the group’s inspiration, as he was even in his absence at the European Championship. But the coach also points to his breadth of goalscorers; to Jesper Lindstrøm and Andreas Skov Olsen and Kasper Dolberg. “You cannot expect to push a button and expect to score a lot of goals,” Hjulmand after the France defeat. “We have a lot of good strikers and we were very close.”
The second is to repeat the brilliant defensive display that ensured a clean sheet against heavy Tunisia pressure – and then step it up a notch given the class of this next opponent. There is also perhaps a third: to cast aside for 90 minutes a genuine appreciation for Eriksen’s calibre and for what he has overcome in the 18 months since having a cardiac arrest on the pitch during Denmark’s European Championship group game against Finland.
“He’s good,” the attacker said of Eriksen. “But one manager at Schalke [youth] once put out 11 sticks. He tied ’em off then put one stick on the right, and he said: ‘Boys, do you realise something?’ No one knew what he was talking about and one of the boys said: ‘There’s 12 sticks out there.’ And he goes: ‘No, there’s 11 sticks which stick as a team. One stick, which is an individual. Eleven sticks will always be stronger than one.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Socceroos relishing perennial underdog status with upset of Denmark plotted | Emma KempEvery Australian team in history has been underestimated, says Craig Goodwin, and that suits Graham Arnold’s squad just fine
Read more »
How Denmark has helped shape the Socceroos’ World Cup campaign | Michael HugueninThe Danish Superliga, with its strikingly similar culture, has become a popular destination for Australian players
Read more »
One-point perspective: Socceroos to leave it all on the line against DenmarkNobody did the Socceroos any favours on the long, arduous road to Qatar - so they’re expecting none in return, as defender Kye Rowles pledged the team would leave it all on the line in the push for a spot in the World Cup’s round of 16.
Read more »
One-point perspective: Socceroos to leave it all on the line against DenmarkNobody did the Socceroos any favours on the long, arduous road to Qatar - so they’re expecting none in return, as defender Kye Rowles pledged the team would leave it all on the line in the push for a spot in the World Cup’s round of 16.
Read more »
I always knew guzzling two litres of water a day was over the top | Emma BeddingtonA new study cuts the traditional public health target down to size. What a relief: it’s never pleasant to drink a cold, flavourless glass of nothing
Read more »
How and what time to watch Socceroos vs Denmark game live: Australia at Fifa World Cup 2022The tournament is under way in Qatar. How can football fans follow the action? What time is kick-off against France, Tunisia and Denmark? Your questions answered with our guide
Read more »