Action replay
SHADES OF 1992 AS THE DANES ROAR
Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand refused to compare his side with the great Danes of Euro 92 but did admit inspiring the current believe anything is they are crop to possible.
Hjulmand’s men will take on Wales in the last 16 after a remarkable recovery to finish second in Group B.
Denmark were down and out after two defeats – but the outpouring of emotion following Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest inspired them to victory over Russia.
The country knows all about unlikely successes having won Euro 92 when they did not even qualify. Denmark got a late call after Yugoslavia was ripped apart by war and could not compete.
Danish boss Hjulmand did not go as far as to say his side remind him of 1992 – which had Peter
Schmeichel and Brian Laudrup. “It’s very difficult to compare different teams from different eras,” he said. “The ’92 team has one period, the ’80s has one period and we are trying to create our own identity now.
“It was a different tournament back in ’92 with eight teams.We are just doing our best and we are trying to reach as far as possible.
“We definitely use ’92 as an inspiration that great things can be achieved by small nations like ours.”
Eriksen watched from home as he recovers after medics saved his life on the pitch. Hjulmand could certainly do with the creativity of the Danish talisman ahead of Saturday’s clash with Wales in Amsterdam.
“I didn’t speak to him after the Russia game, unfortunately I didn’t have time to,” added the Danish boss.
“But I’m thinking a lot about Christian and how much I have hoped that he could have experienced this.
“I know it was a big dream for him to play this summer. To know he is not here in the team, it hurts. But I’m happy he is still here, because it was close for him [dying]. I’m thinking about him a lot.”
In fact, Hjulmand wore a bracelet with a football on it during Monday night’s victory over the Russians as a tribute to Eriksen.
“This is the first time I’m wearing jewellery,” he said. “There is a little football on it. It’s Christian who’s here, so we want to take him with us. I had him with me all the way. I think about him a lot.”