Denmark stood out in Euro 2020, where they managed to reach the semi-finals. Following that success, they managed to impress in the World Cup qualifiers, grabbing nine consecutive wins to qualify for the Qatar tournament. Kasper Hjulmand has built a Good team that bounced back after Eriksen’s collapse. He has polished the team’s building from the back and urged the full-backs to push forwards. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is providing the team with quality in the midfield, although it remains to be seen whether Simon Kjaer recovers in time for the tournament from a serious injury.
Denmark will aim to emulate their emotionally charged run to the Euro 2020 semifinals in Qatar, minus the drama of Christian Eriksen’s horrifying collapse.
The Manchester United midfielder has made a startling recovery following his cardiac arrest on the pitch during that tournament, that forced him to step away from the game.
He has, thankfully, returned and has become a fixture in the Premier League once again. Eriksen will function as the Danes’ creative engine at his fifth major tournament.
A dominant qualifying campaign and two recent victories over defending world champions France demonstrates the potential of Kasper Hjulmand’s side, bringing a core of established talent in the mature end of their primes to the Middle East.
If they pick up momentum in the group stages, another brave Danish charge into the latter rounds could be on the cards.
Final 26-man Denmark World Cup squad
Hjulmand had until Friday, October 21 to submit an official preliminary list of 35-55 players to FIFA, from which he then had to select a final 26-man roster for Qatar by Monday, November 14.
Denmark revealed 21 of their 26 players on November 7 with the final five added before the cutoff.
Among those initially named, Premier League stars Christian Eriksen, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Mikkel Damsgaard all made the cut.
Former Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was also unsurprisingly named.
Hjulmand claimed 12 players were vying for the final five places in his side that saw the likes of Christian Norgaard and Yussuf Poulsen given a call-up.
Here are the 26 players confirmed to be in Denmark’s final World Cup squad:
| Position | No. | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
| GK | 1 | Kasper Schmeichel | Nice (FRA) | 35 | 86 |
| GK | 16 | Oliver Christensen | Hertha Berlin (GER) | 23 | 1 |
| GK | 22 | Frederik Ronnow | Union Berlin (GER) | 30 | 8 |
| DEF | 6 | Andreas Christensen | Barcelona (SPA) | 26 | 58 |
| DEF | 4 | Simon Kjaer | AC Milan (ITA) | 33 | 121 |
| DEF | 17 | Jens Stryger Larsen | Trabzonspor (TUR) | 31 | 49 |
| DEEF | 2 | Joachim Andersen | Crystal Palace (ENG) | 26 | 19 |
| DEF | 3 | Victor Nelsson | Galatasaray (TUR) | 24 | 7 |
| DEF | 13 | Rasmus Kristensen | Leeds United (ENG) | 25 | 10 |
| DEF | 26 | Alexander Bah | Benfica (POR) | 24 | 4 |
| DEF | 5 | Joakim Maehle | Atalanta (ITA) | 25 | 31 |
| DEF | 18 | Daniel Wass | Brondby (DEN) | 33 | 44 |
| MID | 8 | Thomas Delaney | Sevilla (SPA) | 26 | 20 |
| MID | 10 | Christian Eriksen | Manchester United (ENG) | 30 | 117 |
| MID | 23 | Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg | Tottenham (ENG) | 27 | 60 |
| MID | 14 | Mikkel Damsgaard | Brentford (ENG) | 22 | 18 |
| MID | 15 | Christian Norgaard | Brentford (ENG) | 28 | 17 |
| MID | 7 | Mathias Jensen | Brentford (ENG) | 26 | 20 |
| MID | 25 | Jesper Lindstrom | Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) | 22 | 6 |
| MID | 24 | Robert Skov | Hoffenheim (GER) | 26 | 11 |
| MID | 11 | Andreas Skov Olsen | Club Brugge (BEL) | 22 | 23 |
| FWD | 19 | Jonas Wind | Wolfsburg (GER) | 23 | 15 |
| FWD | 21 | Andreas Cornelius | Copenhagen (DEN) | 29 | 41 |
| FWD | 9 | Martin Braithwaite | Espanyol (SPA) | 31 | 62 |
| FWD | 20 | Yussuf Poulsen | RB Leipzig (GER) | 28 | 68 |
| FWD | 12 | Kasper Dolberg | Sevilla (SPA) | 25 | 37 |
Denmark best player, strengths & weaknesses
A narrow 2-1 extra-time defeat to England in the Euro 2020 semifinal was all that separated Denmark from an against-all-odds bid for the title last year.
A team with a sturdy back line who are comfortable in possession and capable of launching thunderbolt counter-attacks at any moment, they should be even better equipped in Qatar.
The added impetus of a fit and healthy Eriksen could make a significant difference this year. All the leading contenders will be wary of Denmark.
Stars
Denmark’s battle hardened, close-knit core of talent operating down the spine of their team will be the backbone of any success at this World Cup.
Kasper Schmeichel, Simon Kjaer, Eriksen and Martin Brathwaite are all into their early 30s, offering tournament know-how and leadership to a young and exciting attack.
Kasper Dolberg is expected to be Denmark’s key goal threat, but a steady start to his season with Sevilla could see Brathwaite get the nod.
Strengths
The Danish backline conceded just three goals throughout their World Cup qualification campaign. Andreas Christensen and Kjaer were heroes of their Euro 2020 campaign, while Jannick Verstergaard and Joachim Andersen are also excellent options.
It’s a wonderfully balanced team, with 22-year-old wingers Mikkel Damsgaard and Andreas Olsen dangerous elements in attack, while the likes of Thomas Delaney and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg steady the ship in midfield.
Weaknesses
Hjulmand’s team are full of spirit, have a well-oiled system and possess plenty of talent. Regardless, they’ll still be considered underdogs against the likes of Brazil, England, Germany and Portugal.
Do they have the resilience to withstand Messi or Ronaldo? Can they overpower Thiago Silva or Antonio Rudiger?
Denmark World Cup group
Eriksen and his teammates will be licking their lips at the sight of Group D. Back-to-back victories over France in the UEFA Nations League will strike fear into Didier Deschamps’ side, who will be desperate to avoid another shock exit as they suffered in Euro 2020.
Though not to be underestimated, the Danes should have enough firepower to overcome Tunisia and Australia.
Denmark Group D fixtures and match schedule
| Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
| Tue, Nov. 22 | Denmark vs. Tunisia | 8 a.m. | Education City Stadium |
| Sat, Nov. 26 | France vs. Denmark | 11 a.m. | Stadium 974 |
| Wed, Nov. 30 | Australia vs. Denmark | 10 a.m. | Al Janoub Stadium |
COACH
KASPER HJULMAND
Hjulmand has built a solid team and man-aged to make his men stick together after Christian Eriksen’s shocking collapse. Hjulmand won one league title with Nordsjaelland in 2012.
THE STAR
ANDREAS CHRISTENSEN
He guarantees Denmark’s smooth build-ing from the back. At Euro 2020, his coach played him both at centre-back and defensive midfield.
LINE-UP (1-3-4-2-1)
THE BEST
Denmark boast a great group of players who do not solely depend on individual quality.
THE WORST
They are missing a striker who can finish off the chances the team are creating.
Bengali