Denmark go into their opening World Cup recreation in opposition to a tough Tunisia aspect on Tuesday within the uncommon place of being amongst Europe’s darkish horses, in with an out of doors probability of successful the event if they’ll get all the things proper in Qatar.
The important thing group recreation will probably be in opposition to France, a aspect they beat twice within the latest Nations League marketing campaign. However first, they might want to be certain that there are not any slip-ups of their opener in opposition to the Tunisians, who beat Iran 2-0 of their ultimate pre-World Cup pleasant. To make sure the very best begin, the Danes will flip to playmaker Christian Eriksen, who suffered a coronary heart assault of their Euro 2020 opener in opposition to Finland in Copenhagen however who has since made a full restoration.
“After he got here again, it’s been unbelievable. The second he stepped into the pitch for the primary time in Amsterdam, taking part in in opposition to Holland, he simply took management of the match and scored, and since then, he’s simply been higher and higher,” coach Kasper Hjulmand informed Reuters in a latest interview.
Hjulmand has saved religion with lots of the squad that pulled collectively within the wake of Eriksen’s near-fatal collapse, and the truth that the 30-year-old playmaker is totally match will make an enormous distinction. Eriksen’s World Cup debut got here in South Africa, however again then he was a teen simply breaking by within the senior ranks of the nationwide crew. He involves Qatar as a Manchester United participant acknowledged as one of many world’s greatest in opening up cussed defences.
A 5-1 drubbing by Brazil in Paris apart, Tunisia’s latest performances have been regular with out being spectacular, however they’re nonetheless able to punishing any errors the Danes may make. On the 2018 World Cup they held England scoreless till Harry Kane scored within the 91st minute to present the English a slender win.
Showing at their sixth finals, Tunisia have by no means made the knockout stage. Being drawn in a bunch with Denmark, France and Australia has left them with one thing of a mountain to climb. To take action they should shackle Eriksen, one thing few sides in worldwide soccer have managed to do with any nice success.
“He’s the rhythm, he’s the center of our crew, the heartbeat of our play. He’s an amazing soccer participant,” Hjulmand mentioned, and now Tunisia need to discover a strategy to cease him.