WE DESERVE A BREAK
Danes still fighting:
simon Kjaer was one of the heroes who helped save Christian Eriksen’s life. Now the Denmark skipper believes his side deserve to make the knockout stage tonight after all they have been through.
The Danes take on Russia in Copenhagen knowing victory for them and defeat for Finland against Belgium could guarantee them a last-16 spot even with three points, if goal difference swings their way.
It would be a remarkable achievement considering the Danes are rock bottom of Group B with zero points.
But nobody would begrudge them after they overcame the horror of Eriksen’s cardiac arrest on the pitch in their opening game against Finland and pushed world No.1 side Belgium all the way before losing 2-1 in their second outing.
Danish defender Kjaer, who got Eriksen into a recovery position after he collapsed, is hoping they get their reward tonight. “I think it would mean a lot to get through,” said the AC Milan star. “We go into the game with a mentality that we have to get there.
“After everything we’ve been through I think we deserve it. We have all the qualities.
“You can be 100 percent sure everything will be left out on the pitch. The quality this team has, I’m confident about the match.”
Eriksen is now recovering at home with his family after being released from hospital and he visited his team-mates in the aftermath of the defeat by Belgium.
The players have been helped in recovering from the trauma by seeing Eriksen in person.
Now their goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel is hopeful his side can again show what it means to be Danish as they look to take down Russia and sneak into the last 16.
Schmeichel said: “These are the kind of situations we’ve been in before where we can get a result.
“You hear it a lot when talking about team spirit and unity that when the chips are down and things are really bad, that is when you show your true colours.
“We, as a team, showed what it means to be Danish and what makes Danish people so great.
“The days following show why we love this game and love our country so much.”