There is a before and after for each selection. Because of the context, because of the generations, because of the circumstances in which the tests are discussed, because of the coaches. And the line is made up of extreme situations, whether good or bad, which henceforth give a definition to the past and another perspective to the future. Denmark had one of those moments in 1992, when they were secretly training without knowing for sure what would happen to Yugoslavia, they were relegated to the European Championship in Sweden and ended up winning the final against Germany. Almost 30 years later, and after more modest years in terms of participation in major competitions, he faced another different episode when he saw his best player fall to the grass with a cardiac arrest in the first match of Euro 2020. And the whole team changed with him.
Kasper Hjulmand, a coach with a reputation as a miracle worker that goes back a long way when he was crowned champion of modest Nordsjaelland, managed to grab a group of players who were on their knees before the extreme situation they were living. (and that, with Kjaer at the helm, he faced the moment pragmatically) and reinforced the collective spirit in a journey that only ended in extra time in the semifinals with a goal from Harry Kane. More: it was not just a competition but a way of seeing the game that continued to bear fruit until Eriksen returned, recovered from the problem that kept him away for many months and again in the Premier League via Brentford until he reached Manchester United. And Denmark was one of the first teams to qualify for the World Cup, with a streak of nine straight victories.
Hjulmand, who took charge of the national team in August 2020, arrives in Qatar with an “abnormal” winning percentage of 67% (22 in 33 games), failing to qualify for the Nations League Final Four due to defeats in direct confrontation with croatia. Denmark are favorites along with France (who they recently beat) for the round of 16 but from there, not being one of the teams with the most chances to win, He has at least the conditions to become one of the surprises of the competition. In 1992 nobody believed and it happened; in 2022 nobody believes it either but it can happen.
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Source: Observadora
