KASPER HJULMAND
What did you learn from your UEFA Nations League campaign?
We learned that what we were thinking of doing with the game actually succeeded in many ways. We learned that we are missing our fans when we play. We learned that we are doing a lot of things well, but that we need a little bit of quality and coolness. But the campaign gave us optimism. In a group with Belgium, England and Iceland we beat Iceland twice and England once. We feel we can compete with the best and on a very good day we can beat them.
How can your team take the next step?
I think it’s experience. Belgium, for example, lost in the Nations League three years ago to Switzerland. They learned from that experience. We made some very, very small errors in the match against Belgium. But enough to say: “This is why we lost.” The other thing is a little bit more flexibility.
You’ve played 4-3-3 and 3-4-2-1. Do you want to add another system to that?
No, I would say that it comes out from 4-3-3 or 3-4-3 and then the three up front can be fielded in different ways. Systems are not something that I talk a lot about. It’s more about principles and the precision.
You have a lot of talent in your squad right now. Where do you rank this generation of Danish players?
We definitely have a very good group of players. The players born in 1994 to 1996 with Andreas Christensen, Yussuf Poulsen and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – that group was our best Under-17 team. They went to the World Cup with the U17s and then had a very good U21 team. That’s the core of the team and they can grow. We then have experienced players like Kasper Schmeichel, Simon Kjaer and Christian Eriksen. And we have talented players coming up in Andreas [Skov] Olsen and [Mikkel] Damsgaard. We haven’t reached our top yet, but we can take steps forward.
What is your assessment of Denmark’s Euro 2020 group?
I believe we can go through the group but it will be tough. Finland are here for the first time. They are very enthusiastic. They have been working well in the federation for quite some time. I have been following their youth systems and some of their players. They have developed very well. Russia are always dangerous. At their best they play some really good football. And then we have Belgium, of course, who I think are one of the big favourites. So, it’s tough, but we are confident. We have quality and we think we can go through the first round. Then we’ll see what happens from there.
What do you think Denmark’s ambitions should be at the tournament?
We should dream of winning. We won in 1992 and I hope that my kids can experience those feelings of winning a trophy. It doesn’t mean we think we are the favourites. But do we have a chance? Yes! Should we dream? Yes! We are dreaming of some day lifting a trophy again.