Kasper Hjulmand, the Denmark coach, was less than confident before taking on France on Sunday night, despite the cascade of packages hurting the Blues. But he also recalled that the Danes had achieved the feat last June at the Stade de France.
“The French national team is deprived of many players, including some executives, such as Lloris, Benzema, Kanté or Pogba. Is this an ideal opportunity for your team?
France has a lot of other world-class players, you know. And there are wounded among us too (Poulsen, Cornelius, Wind). But the quality of the France team’s bench is simply unbelievable. I think I could field two or three teams capable of playing at the highest level.
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Schedule and results of Group 1
You beat her once not long ago (1-2, June 3, 2022 in the Nations League)…
It is possible, it is true. We managed to win once at the Stade de France, last June, and tomorrow we will have (Sunday, 8:45 p.m., follow live commented), a complement of soul with the support of our public that has been tremendous in recent years. But France is perhaps the team with the strongest individuals in the world, so don’t take the last result as the truth. On a good night, on good performances, we know we can do it.
“Every centimeter of that gap to fill (against the best nations) is a permanent struggle, in the day-to-day of the players in their clubs, and in each selection meeting”
Do you feel that you have now reduced the gap that separates you from nations like France?
We continue to be part of those teams that try to improve every day, every competition, to fill that gap against teams like France, who have been among the best for a while. But, you know, every inch of that gap to fill is a permanent struggle, in the day to day of the players in their clubs, and in each national rally.
They lost first place in the group after their defeat in Croatia (1-2) on Thursday. Will he be able to recover it in this last game to aspire to reach the Final Four?
We didn’t get the expected result in Croatia, that’s for sure. We didn’t deliver our best game, but it wasn’t lost either. We have no choice but to aim for victory against France, especially with the exceptional enthusiasm surrounding my team. And then don’t forget that Croatia will have to fight in Austria and it won’t be easy for them. Austria must avoid relegation to League B…”
Andreas Christensen: ‘We can beat anyone’