Christian Eriksen -inspired Denmark – the team in the ongoing Euro 2020 with a standout worldwide appeal and support, has assured their teeming global fans that they will go for a ‘blast’ in their final Group B match against Russia on Monday, Completesports.com reports.
A large chunk of world football fraternity started rooting for Denmark following midfielder Christian Eriksen’s medical condition that scared millions of television viewers stiff when the Danes clashed with Finland on Matchday-1.
Kasper Hjulmand’s battlers lost 1-0 to Finland. And opinions were divided on the decision of UEFA to have the game resumed same day after earlier suspending it as the Eriksen’s heartstopping situation played havoc with the nerves of both players and fans, especially the ailing player’s teammates.
On Thursday, Denmark players – inspired by the positives around Eriksen and buoyed by the massive vociferous home fans and the love of the world, played out of their skin against top FIFA ranked team, Belgium, at the Parken Arena Copenhagen. In the end, Belgium’s class and experience prevailed. The Roberto Martinez’s side overcame a big scare to win 2-1. But the worldwide endorsement and love for the Denmark team snowballed.
Denmark, with two defeats in Group B, has mathematical chance of advancing into the Round of 16 – only if they maul Russia on Monday and Belgium bag a cleansheet win against Finland. There are also next round slots for the four best third-placed teams, for which the Danes have an outside chance. Belgium currently top the group on six points. Finland and Russia are on three points apiece, with Denmark bringing up the rear without any point.
Denmark are raring to go for broke against Russia, for the three points that might tie them with Finland and the Russians at the conclusion of the group’s games.
Also Read: Belgium Beat ‘Stubborn’ Denmark To Seal Euro 2020 Round Of 16 Ticket
“Thank you very much for the support & Now it’s covered up for a blast on Monday against Russia. We hope you’re with us!,” an official message posted on the Danish national team’s Instgram page reads.
For Denmark it’s now about a fight for national pride, for a Euro 2020 prize and for Eriksen. During the game against Belgium, fans flaunted a big banner with the inscription, “All Denmark is with you, Christian”. There was also a ceremonial display of Eriksen’s iconic number 10 shirt inside the stadium. It was a huge response to Eriksen’s message to the team and fans two days earlier from his hospital bed not far from the Stadium.
Eriksen had posted on his Instagram page: “Hello everyone. Big thanks for your sweet and amazing greetings and messages from all around the world. It means a lot to me and my family. A I’m fine under the circumstances. I still have to go through some examinations at the hospital, but I feel okay.
“Now, I will cheer on the boys on the Denmark team in the next matches. Play for all of Denmark.”
The Denmark men’s national team, on Friday published a video of the nation’s popular singer, Mads Langer, performing an inspirational song titled “For Denmark, For Life” which chronicles the country’s special moments in the past, and now motivating Hjulmand’s men to continue the fight and beat Russia.
Winger, Martin Braithwaite’s message to the fans was also published on the Herrelandsholdet Instagram page on Friday, thanking everyone and urging them to get behind the team again against Russia.
“I want to take this opportunity again to say thank you very much for the attention, love and support, because it means so much.I dont think you can even describe how much it means. It really is something that connects us. We know that we are fighting as role models for all of Denmark,” The FC Barcelona star’s message reads.
“The players come from all their own Denmark and fight for all girls and
boys and the whole nation. It means so much to our achievement, feelings and pride. With that we gain wings and we needed it and we will need it
again on Monday. We really have. I can only say thank you very much. #ForDanmark.”
Belgium coach, Martinez, has captured what any Denmark opponent at Euro 2020 will expect at the Parken Arena, Copenhagen. And it smacks of bad news for Russia.
“The fans created an incredible atmosphere and gave the home team a goal lead. At that point we were a little shell-shocked, it took us probably 20 minutes to start being ourselves,” Martinez told reporters after Belgium’s nervy 2-1 win against Denmark.
“We couldn’t get through that desire, that heart and that pressure that the Danish team put on.
“That’s expected, in a way. They were playing at home, they needed to win to qualify and I felt that the first half was a lot of emotion involved that took away a lot of what we can do on a football pitch.”
By Nnamdi Ezekute
