Finland goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky didn’t sugar coat issues when summing up the distinction between his staff and Denmark on the European Championship.
They have higher gamers than us in each place, Hradecky stated bluntly forward of Finland’s main match debut at Euro 2020.
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Then the Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper touched on the one factor that might converse in his staff’s favor going into Saturday’s Group B recreation in Copenhagen.
“But we now have proven earlier than that the sum of all of the components in our puzzle is bigger than what folks suppose, he stated.
Few would argue with both of Hradecky’s assessments.
While the closest factor Finland has to a star is Norwich striker Teemu Pukki, Denmark has a formidable backbone that runs from goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel up by way of the center-back pairing of Andreas Christensen and Simon Kjaer to Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Inter Milan playmaker Christian Eriksen.
Finland, although, confirmed nice cohesiveness in qualifying for its first main match beneath coach Markku Kanerva. That’s partly as a result of the core of Kanerva’s staff has been collectively since he led them to the Under-19 European Championship in 2009.
With that form of tight-knit bond, Finland may spring a number of surprises at Euro 2020. And Denmark, after all, is aware of all about springing an upset at this match having gained the 1992 European Championship in one of many sport’s largest shocks.
Now Denmark has to cope with the standing of being an enormous favourite no less than for one recreation. Russia and top-ranked Belgium are additionally within the group, which suggests a win towards Finland might be a should if Denmark is to advance to the spherical of 16.
And Denmark is already trying even additional forward than that. Because whereas lots of the present Denmark gamers werent even born in 1992, that inconceivable title run clearly nonetheless lingers of their collective minds.
The whole Danish folks is aware of what occurred in 1992, stated Eriksen, who was 4 months previous when Denmark beat Germany in that remaining. They’ve made motion pictures and TV sequence about that (title), and each participant from that staff remains to be actually well-known in Denmark. Their legacy is big. They confirmed it’s potential to win an enormous match.”
Denmark has the added advantage of playing all three group games at its Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, where about 15,000 fans will be on hand against Finland. That number could increase to 25,000 for the next two games against Russia and Belgium after the government on Thursday announced it would ease pandemic restrictions.
It will be the first time Denmark plays a major tournament game at home.
Its something completely unique and something Ill probably never experience again, Schmeichel said. I am really looking forward to it. But on the other hand, we must also keep a cool head and not get swept up in the emotions and the football fever that is happening in Denmark. We have to go in and do our job.
The statistics are also heavily in Denmarks favor. Finland has only won one of the last 22 meetings between the Nordic sides, with Denmark winning 15 of those. The last time Finland won in Denmark was in 1949.
Finland warmed up for the tournament with losses to Sweden and Estonia, and there is still uncertainty around Pukkis fitness after he struggled with an ankle problem toward the end of the season.
Denmark, meanwhile, has only lost two of its last 23 games overall both to group opponent Belgium and went through Euro 2020 qualifying undefeated.
So perhaps Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand can be forgiven for also getting swept up in the talk about winning the Euros once again. And he went even further back in history when looking for inspiration, seemingly channeling Danish author Hans Christian Andersen as well.
We have to believe in it, Hjulmand said. We are entering this tournament with a dream of a miracle. We are the country of fairy tales, so who knows.
STARTING LINE-UP
Denmark (4-2-3-1)
Kasper Schmeichel; Daniel Wass, Simon Kjaer (capt), Andreas Christensen, Joakim Maehle; Thomas Delaney, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg; Yussuf Poulsen, Christian Eriksen, Martin Braithwaite; Jonas Wind
Coach: Kasper Hjulmand (DEN)
Finland (4-4-2)
Lukas Hradecky; Jukka Raitala, Paulus Arajuuri, Daniel O’Shaughnessy, Jere Uronen; Robin Lod, Glen Kamara, Tim Sparv (capt), Joona Toivio; Teemu Pukki, Joel Pohjanpalo
Coach: Markku Kanerva (FIN)
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