Denmark coach takes a dig at France, Pogba
Stockholm, May 25: Denmark coach Age Hareide gave a withering assessment of his World Cup first- round rivals France on Thursday claiming they have no real leader and have little chance in Russia.
“I don’t believe in this team,” Hareide told Danish daily JyllandsPosten, a month ahead of their June 26 game in Russia.
“They are nothing special,” he said.
“They don’t have a leader such as Zinedine Zidane to lead them, someone who knew how to galvanise them. They need to play as a team,” said the Norwegian who has been Denmark coach for three years.
The 64- year- old singled out Manchester United’s Paul Pogba for criticism.
“He played against Manchester City with his hair dyed blue and white, maybe he’ll have it red and white to play us. Good grief, does he only think about his haircuts?” asked the coach.
Hareide said he hoped to lead Denmark on a fine campaign.
“I couldn’t stand just being happy to be at the World Cup,” he said.
Denmark beat Ireland 5- 1 in a play- off to qualify for the finals where they have been drawn in Group C with Peru, Australia and the French.
BIERHOFF HAILS REAL- TIME DATA
The first ever use of tablet computers delivering real- time player data to to coaches coaches during during World World Cup matches next month is a useful tool that will make teams more flexible, Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff said on Friday. World soccer’s governing body Fifa earlier this month approved the use of two statistic tablets for coaching staff and communicating data directly with the bench at next month’s tournament ment in in Russia. Russia. “I welcome the use of tablets for coaches at the World told reporters Cup,” Bierhoff at the world champions’ training camp in northern Italy. “There are many more options available such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, things that are not necessarily well heard within football but will be part of the future"