DANES SAVE THEIR BACON
Covid forces stars to swerve internationals
DANISH players in the Premier League could have to quarantine if they play for their national side this week.
New Covid restrictions mean anyone coming into the UK from Denmark will have to isolate — and it appears to include elite sportsmen.
That’s because of a new strain of the virus in the country linked to mink farms.
It could also mean England have to call off their Nations League game against Iceland because they are playing in Denmark this weekend.
The government would not let the Iceland players into the country under current rules.
If they play the game in a neutral country, then the ENGLAND players will have to self-isolate when they come back home.
The Danes are thinking of leaving out all their Premier League and Championship players — otherwise they will have to quarantine after playing friendlies against Sweden, Iceland and Belgium.
Pierre Hojberg, Kasper Schmeichel, Andreas Christensen, Jannik Vestergaard, Henrik Dalsgaard, Mathias Jensen and Jonas Lossl are all set to miss out.
Schemeichel is hoping the UK government will change their mind so he can play for the Danes.
The Leicester keeper said: “The politics of it is the government has made a decision for now. I hope they come to their senses and see we are very protected in a bubble. We get tested all the time and I hope to be able to participate in at least one, if not two, of the games.”
Tottenham gaffer Jose Mourinho is trying to come up with a compromise so Hojberg can join up with his national team-mates and not have to self-isolate.
He said: “He obviously wants to play for his national team.
“Of course we want Pierre back and in condition to play and it looks like we have found a situation that protects us and the player and allows him to play one match.
“The situation is simple. The first match is a friendly against Sweden, he doesn’t go.
“The second game is in the Nations League at home in
Copenhagen, he is suspended because he got a yellow card against England so he is not going.
“The third game is Belgium against Denmark so he stays with us and works with us and goes to Belgium.
“He does what he wants and plays with the greatest pride for his national team and then he comes back. The situation fits everyone.”
Sweden have decided not to pick their five British-based players for the Denmark game.
That includes Man United defender Victor Lindelof along with Newcastle’s Emile Krafth and Everton No2 goalie Robin Olsen.
They are expected to join up with the squad in time for the other two games against Croatia and France.