COPENHAGEN – Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen, who suffered a cardiac arrest during Euro 2020, was one of 21 players named by Kasper Hjulmand on Monday in Denmark’s World Cup squad, with the coach set to reveal the remaining five players in the coming days.
The squad was unveiled in a slick video that featured a reworked version of the Danish national anthem alongside Danish fans and well-known faces such as former striker Nicklas Bendtner and former prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt.
The full list must be presented by next Monday at the latest, the day before the team leaves for Qatar.
“There are 10 to 12 players competing for the last places,” said Hjulmand.
“A lot can happen. It’s uncertain, but it’s the right way to go. There are two games left for many players, and things could change.”
Eriksen spent eight months out of the game after collapsing in Denmark’s opening game of the European Championship against Finland in Copenhagen on June 12, 2021, remaining lifeless for minutes.
He had to be resuscitated on the pitch, lying unconscious for several minutes as the stunned crowd and millions of television viewers around the world watched on in horror.
Eriksen spent several days in hospital and had a pacemaker implanted to regulate his heartbeat, which necessitated a move from Inter Milan to Brentford in the Premier League due to Serie A’s rules regarding the device.
He then scored on his international return against the Netherlands in March.
Regulars such as captain Simon Kjaer are on the list although there is no place yet for Leicester City defender Jannik Vestergaard and RB Leipzig striker Yussuf Poulsen.
Hertha Berlin goalkeeper Oliver Christensen, Leeds United defender Rasmus Kristensen and Eintracht Frankfurt forward Jesper Lindstrom are the only players who have not played at the Finals of a major tournament for Denmark before.
In Group D, Denmark begin their World Cup on Nov 22 against Tunisia, before meeting France, the reigning champions, and Australia.
Tenth in the Fifa world rankings, Denmark have been among the countries most critical of the holding of the World Cup in Qatar.
AFP, REUTERS
Denmark’s preliminary squad:
Goalkeepers: Kasper Schmeichel (Nice), Oliver Christensen (Hertha Berlin)
Defenders: Daniel Wass (Brondby), Rasmus Nissen Kristensen (Leeds), Jens Stryger Larsen (Trabzonspor), Joakim Maehle (Atalanta), Andreas Christensen (Barcelona), Simon Kjaer (AC Milan), Joachim Andersen (Crystal Palace), Victor Nelsson (Galatasaray)
Midfielders: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Tottenham), Thomas Delaney (Sevilla), Christian Eriksen (Man United), Mathias Jensen (Brentford)
Forwards: Mikkel Damsgaard (Brentford), Andreas Skov Olsen (Brugge), Jesper Lindstrom (Eintracht Frankfurt), Martin Braithwaite (Silkeborg), Kasper Dolberg (Sevilla), Jonas Wind (Wolfsburg), Andreas Cornelius (Copenhagen)
