Kasper Hjulmand’s powerful Denmark squad will enter the 2022 World Cup as underdogs after a very successful qualifying campaign that saw them win nine of their ten games. Two teams in Denmark’s football history have shaped the nation. One of them made headlines by winning the UEFA EURO in 1992, while the other was defeated 5-1 by Spain and eliminated from the 1986 FIFA World Cup in the round of 16.
Hjulmand’s Approach and Tactics
A few people would wonder why the latter still commands greater love. But in our country, the triumph of that tenacious, effective 1992 team is weighed against the flamboyance of its allegedly unsuccessful forebears. The current coach, Kasper Hjulmand, summed it up wonderfully. He said to FIFA last year: “People may claim that the 1980s squad didn’t win anything, but they won hearts; football fans throughout the globe were talking about them. “I believe it’s a major factor. It was a team that had a tremendous effect with the football they played.”
Hjulmand’s strategy and manoeuvres. When he initially took over, there wasn’t much that needed changing, as the Denmark coach has been eager to point out. Age Hareide, the team’s predecessor, had, after all, guided them to two significant tournaments and put up a string of 34 victories.
With those foundational elements in place, Hjulmand’s key contribution has been to give an already strong and successful squad a touch of the 1986 spirit.
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In comparison to Hareide’s Denmark, his team plays less directly, is more expansive and offensive, and uses a higher, more aggressive press. Hjulmand has also emphasised tactical adaptability, refusing to commit to a certain formation and often switching tactics in the middle of a game. Despite the favoured set-up of the day, certain characteristics such as the usage of high, attacking full-backs and the provision of creative licence to players like Eriksen remain.
Important Figure: Christian Eriksen
Simon Kjaer may be the inspiring captain of Denmark, but the team’s coach has referred to Eriksen as “our captain in the rhythm of the game, the reading of the game, and the sense of a match.” He sees everything, Hjulmand said. “He leads in that manner. He is this team’s pulse and heartbeat. Eriksen has really been Denmark’s most important player for the better part of a decade and was the team’s undeniable star as they qualified for and took part in the 2018 World Cup. He is the current team’s most effective creator and top scorer with 38 goals.
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However, many questioned if he would ever return such a prominent role after that dramatic on-field cardiac collapse, during which time Denmark prospered without him. Any uncertainty has, of course, been dispelled by the manner in which he has progressed since for club and nation. Hjulmand said that he “saw a relaxation and lightness in Christian’s playing which is great” after witnessing him score with his first touch on his comeback in the Netherlands and then score on his return to the Parken Stadium.
Watch Out for Mikkel Damsgaard
At EURO 2020, Damsgaard filled the creative hole left by Eriksen and stood out as one of the game’s best performers. He dressed the part of the enthusiastic trainee at the moment. The young Sampdoria player said, “When I was younger, I really looked up to Christian and played more like a No10, much like him. I attempted to include the space he discovers in my game from a very early age after studying many of the nuances in his game.
The World Cup History of Denmark
The Danes have advanced beyond the group stage in all but one of their five World Cup appearances thus far, despite lacking the legacy of the game’s titans. Although they had a fantastic start during that illustrious 1986 campaign, they turned in their finest performance in 1998, defeating Olympic winners Nigeria 4-1 to get to the round of eight. Having cruelly exited the tournament in 2018, losing to Croatia on penalties in the round of 16, the Nordic team is now hoping to create a new standard in Qatar 2022.
Denmark only allowed three goals in 10 World Cup 2022 qualifying matches, and they should have a strong foundation for success in Qatar if they play at the same stringent defensive standard. A quarterfinal appearance at the World Cup 2022 should be Kasper Hjulmand’s talented team’s minimum goal after they advanced to the semi-finals of Euro 2020, won their World Cup qualification group, and finished second in their Nations League section shortly after. Denmark is a team that knows how to get the job done.
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