HJU IDIOTS!
Denmark boss hits out at UEFA for daft decision
DENMARK manager Kasper Hjulmand questioned UEFA for putting his players in a difficult position yesterday.
The Danish stars were asked if they wanted to resume the game against Finland moments after Christian Eriksen had suffered cardiac arrest on the pitch.
Hjulmand (above) accepted it was a “difficult” moment but, in hindsight, wished his team had got on the bus and headed back to the hotel rather than finishing the game.
Eriksen had been stabilised and taken to hospital by the time the Denmark and Finland players decided to carry on the Group B opener.
They were given two choices – to finish it then and there or come back the day after at noon.
Both sides chose the former but it was clear the Danes were still struggling after the restart at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen.
Hjulmand said. “Looking back, I think it was the wrong thing to make the decision between the two scenarios to the players in this case.
“Players in a shocked condition, players who don’t really know yet if they lost their best friend and they have to decide between these two things?
“I have a sense that we shouldn’t have played but I know it’s difficult. It is just a feeling I had.
“Maybe we should have got on the bus and gone home and let’s see what the next days would have brought.
“I know it’s difficult but I have a sense that it was wrong that the players were given this situation.”
Former Denmark keeper
Peter Schmeichel was stronger in his views against UEFA. He had watched his son and current Danish No.1 Kasper console distraught players and Eriksen’s partner Sabrina Kvist Jensen, who feared he had died as medics resuscitated him on the pitch.
“Something terrible like that happens and UEFA gives the players an option to play the game or come back at 12:00 the next day,” said Schmeichel Snr.
“What kind of option is that? ridiculous decision by UEFA.
“They should have tried to work out a different scenario and shown a little bit of compassion, but they didn’t.”
Joel Pohjanpalo scored in the
It’s a second half to give Finland their firstever goal in a major tournament and a win on their Euros debut.
Pierre-emile Hojbjerg missed a penalty for the hosts as they failed to find an equaliser, understandably shaken by the earlier events.
Eriksen’s Inter Milan team-mate Romelu Lukaku paid an immediate tribute after he scored a brace against Russia for Belgium in their Group B opener.
The Danish midfielder’s former Tottenham club-mate Heung-min Son held up his fingers to make ‘23’ when he celebrated scoring for South Korea against Lebanon yesterday morning.
And while Hjulmand admits they should never have finished the game on Saturday, he at least took solace in the message it sent out.
“I am really proud to be part of a team that responded the way they did,” added the Danish boss. “Here we saw what football is about – team spirit and
compassion and love.”