Rodon ups the Pierre pressure
JOE RODON intends to blank Tottenham team-mate Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg until after Wales’ clash with Denmark.
The defender does not want to let anything distract him from helping Wales reach the quarter-finals.
He has played every minute for Wales at Euro 2020 so far and excelled, helping Rob Page’s men to finish second in Group A and earn a place in the last 16.
But Rodon knows the knock-out stages will require a different level of focus and ruthlessness ahead of Saturday’s clash in Amsterdam, and that includes giving Danish midfielder Hojbjerg, right, the cold shoulder. “We have not spoken. I don’t plan to,” said Rodon.
“It is great for us both to be in the last 16, but we have said we’ll keep each other apart. I am sure I will speak to him after the game.
“Now it is all heads on the weekend and it is getting to work. I can’t wait to get started.”
The Danes have gained a lot of support since their No.10 Christian Eriksen, a former Spurs player, had to resuscitated on the pitch against Finland’s after suffering a cardiac arrest.They also look likely to have some fans at the Johan Cruyff Arena after a Danish diplomat said they could avoid quarantine if they entered and left Holland within 12 hours. But the Welsh government health minister Eluned Morgan said police in Amsterdam would not be lettingWales fans into the country. Rodon said: “It is a big game and they are a good team, but we will work hard this week and hopefully go through. “We have a tight group and everyone knows the job expected of them.
“It is frustrating we can’t have our fans but we are just happy to get some atmosphere back.”