Denmark head coach Kasper Hjulmand hopes to have the full force of Dutch support on his team’s side when they face Wales in the last 16 of Euro 2020.
The Danes have become everyone’s second-favourite team following Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest, and the backing has been felt strongly in Amsterdam, where the playmaker made his name as a young superstar at Ajax.
Two other members of the Danish squad – Kasper Dolberg and Nicolai Boilesen – also developed their early professional careers in the Dutch capital and Hjulmand is banking on the fanatic Oranje support turning red and white for one evening at least.
“We play on Christian’s old home ground, and we are really looking forward to coming here and giving it full throttle,” Hjulmand said. “All the support and love we get, we will try to turn around and get down to business. We have a strong team, we have a belief that we can beat the team we face. Of course we also have the utmost respect for what Wales can and will bring.
“Ajax is a club that means a lot to Danish football. For many years, Ajax has found talent in Denmark and helped to develop Danish national team players. There is a strong connection between Denmark and Amsterdam.
“We have an incredibly strong connection to this city. And I hope that everyone in Holland will feel it together, so they come [to the stadium] in red and white colours instead of orange.”
Denmark played all three of their group games at home in Parken Stadium and Kasper Schmeichel is also banking on the home support in the Amsterdam Arena giving Denmark the edge over a Wales side that won’t have any of their travelling fans in the ground due to Covid-19 restrictions.
“I’ve never played here myself, I’ve only ever seen on TV the atmosphere that can be created,” said the goalkeeper. “The stadium won’t be full but there’s a lot of traveling Danish fans and a lot of Dutch fans coming to watch the game. Hopefully they support us and not Wales.”
Denmark thrashed Russia 4-1 in an emotional encounter in Copenhagen to book their place in the last-16 and Schmeichel admits the team is only just starting to get going this summer.
“We must enjoy it. The next match is never guaranteed,” he said. “And we don’t know when we will be in a game like this again. We need to release the handbrake and go out to enjoy it.”
Saturday is also a chance for Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to face last season’s club team-mate Gareth Bale. And the midfielder isn’t taking the Welsh wizard lightly.
“In the last ten years, not many have done what he has done,” Hojbjerg said. “Has scored over 100 goals for Real Madrid. A class player. One of the best players I have ever played with.
Denmark have not won a knockout game at a major international tournament since France ’98 but Hjulmand is confident of seeing this game through, even if it goes down to spot kicks.
“We have prepared for penalties,” he confirmed. “How we have done it, I can’t say anything about that! We neither believe nor hope that we will get to that situation. But if we do, we’re ready.”
More from i on Euro 2020
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- What the Premier League could learn from Euro 2020’s controversy-free referees
- The football nomad who became a hero for his role in saving Eriksen’s life
- How Ronaldo’s Coca-Cola stunt could change the face of football sponsorship
- How to watch every Euro 2020 match on TV and online in the UK
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3h9CkXo
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