To the frustration of seeing a teammate undergo a cardiac arrest within the European Championship quarter-finals, one way or the other Denmark retains going.
Denmark will face the Czech Republic on Saturday, simply three weeks after midfielder Christian Eriksen fell on the bottom within the crew’s opening recreation and needed to be revived with a defibrillator.
While Ericsson has recovered – initially in hospital and now at residence – Denmark has made enhancements at Euro 2020. A 4–1 victory over Russia noticed Denmark exit the group stage after two losses. “Danish Dynamite” matched the crew’s finest efficiency since profitable the 1992 European Championship, beating Wales 4–0 within the Round of 16.
“Culture-wise, there are similarities. The value of sticking (together), one for all and one for all,” mentioned Denmark midfielder Pierre-एmile Hjberg on Thursday.
“It can be a matter of pleasure to play for my nation and all these values which I don’t suppose have modified a lot since 1992.
“But my greatest respect for the people” is in 92 as a result of they received it. We have not finished something but.”
Since the “shock” of Ericsson’s sudden collapse, Hjberg mentioned, Denmark has gone by means of huge emotional ups and downs.
“We’re in the quarterfinals now, so it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster, a big one,” he mentioned.
“And the nice factor is that we’re nonetheless hungry. We are nonetheless decided to attempt for extra.”
When Denmark beat Germany 2–0 within the 1992 ultimate, no more than half of the 26-man squad was born. The solely European quarterfinal look since then got here in 2004, a 3–0 loss to the Czech Republic. Hjberg was then 8 years outdated and recollects that he was “not very happy” that he couldn’t watch the match due to a college journey.
That match additionally led to disappointment for the Czechs. They misplaced 1–0 to eventual champions Greece within the semi-finals. As Czechoslovakia, the crew received the European title in 1976. As for the Czech Republic, High Point was runner-up to Germany in 1996.
Denmark and the Czech Republic are each at their finest at Euro 2020 once they had been enjoying high-intensity, bodily soccer in opposition to opponents who wished rights. They can cancel one another out within the quarterfinals. This is enjoying into the thoughts of Danish coach Kasper Hjulmund, a lot in order that he admitted that he was dissatisfied that the Czech crew defeated the Netherlands 2–0 within the spherical of 16.
“I would have played the Netherlands,” Hjulmand advised Danish broadcaster DR on Monday. “We are now facing a team for the first time (in the tournament) that I think can match our own intensity.”
Danish striker Yusuf Poulsen may make a comeback after Wales was dominated out of the sport by a muscle damage after alternative Kasper Dolberg scored twice. Another aim could be to see Czech Republic ahead Patrick Schick match Cristiano Ronaldo because the match’s chief with 5.
Some Danish or Czech followers will likely be on the Baku Olympic Stadium for the sport. Only Turkey, Azerbaijan’s shut ally, has so excess of 2 hundred followers at video games within the metropolis.
“In my view it doesn’t really make sense (to play in Baku). We are a little disappointed but we respect the decision,” Czech Republic midfielder Michael Sadilek mentioned by way of an interpreter on Thursday.
“We look forward to any support at the stadium and we’re going to play so that fans can get in on our next game.”
Plans for a Czech constitution flight to Baku failed as a result of not sufficient followers agreed to depart. Denmark can have as much as 1,000 supporters and has provided 50 of its most loyal followers a experience on the federation’s airplane.
Denmark felt nearer to a lot of the crew than its followers, who watched because the crew roared to defeat Russia in Copenhagen. Even in Amsterdam, the Danes had been the native favourite in what felt like a house recreation in opposition to Wales.
“Every time we wear a shirt, every time we wear the Danish national team badge, we’re playing for the country, we keep the country with us,” Hjberg mentioned.
“So that way they will always be with us. Everyone will always be with us.”
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
