– Can’t believe it – NRK Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
Denmark is one of the countries that dropped using the Onelove bracelet after threats from Fifa.
Hjulmand made no secret of the fact that he is strongly affected by what has happened.
– It worries me as a person that I walk around here. I can say that I go around myself and I find it difficult to find my way around this. I am only speaking for myself when I say that as a person and as a human being I am having a difficult time right now, says the Denmark boss at the press conference.
– I struggle with this
To NRK’s question about what has been most difficult for him personally, Hjulmand replies:
– In Denmark, we have a slogan called “a part of something bigger”. And right now I’m not sure that I’m part of something I like, he replies to NRK.
He continues:
– I like football. I love football. I love diversity. I love all countries. I love different people. But, yes … I think it is important to change direction, and hopefully many young people, progressive people get into governing bodies and see to it that we grow into something great. It is one of my dreams. And that we have more empathy for each other, and know more about each other in the world. These are perhaps my biggest dreams, says Hjulmand to NRK.
He doesn’t really say it, but between the lines it is easy to read that he is far from satisfied with the way this case has unfolded.
– Yesg believes you must find the calm to see what you want to change, the courage to do what you can, and the wisdom to see the difference. And I struggle with this, I have to admit, says Hjulmand.
VG’s sports commentator Leif Welhaven also spoke at the press conference.
– Why not wear yellow when it is such an important matter? If no one stands up to Fifa, where will it end? Welhaven asked.
– Good question. I don’t know if it’s going to be yellow, you know? asked Hjulmand back rhetorically.
He took a breath and launched into a longer line of argument.
– We don’t know. We just know that there will be consequences. Maybe it goes beyond the result and the sporting aspect. I think it’s hard for the players to tell them this. I don’t know if you have been a player in a World Cup? I don’t think we can put it on the players, at least not here. I want to protect my players every day. They have total freedom of expression and behaviour. Maybe it’s another way, let’s see. But I was very moved by Iran yesterday. I also think that something should happen. Maybe it is from us who are involved. Who knows? Let’s see. But it is difficult. I think it is difficult. But I don’t think we can put it on the players. The focus, the energy and where they are in life… I don’t think it’s right to put it on the players, black Wheelman.
Denmark captain Simon Kjær was also peppered with questions about the onelove situation. Kjær was actually supposed to play with the armband against Tunisia, but had to leave it behind due to threats of uncertain sporting reactions from Fifa.
– It’s just later. I think all of us in Scandinavia are unique in this, and in general throughout Europe. It is for the latter, it is something we have done before. Being told that we risk starting the match with a good card, then we get into the sports. I feel that we stand up for the things we stand for and say the things that need to be said. But when it comes to sports, we have to think about it. It is too late that we cannot go along with it, says Kjær to NRK.
Denmark’s World Cup opener against Tunisia ended 0-0, but the Danes will probably be annoyed by the greens that they did not decide the match in the second half.
Substitute Andreas Cornelius could have become the big hero for Denmark when, 20 minutes before, he finished the ball at the back post after Andreas Christensen headed a corner backwards into the box.
– Can not believe it
But unfortunately, the Danish header Cornelius hit the ball in the post instead of in the goal, and that from as close a range as possible.
– I can not believe it. He was probably focused on the post instead of the ball and he missed completely, says former Scotland player Pat Nevin on the BBC.
– Cornelius scores there if he is not afraid to hit the post with his head. Backs off a little, and then it becomes a terribly ugly boomwrites TV 2’s Jesper Mathisen on Twitter.
Cornelius himself explained the situation to NRK like this.
– It’s a chance that I have to score on. It becomes a bit random with a ball that goes through the entire field and ends up with me. There will be some doubt as to how I should finish it. It must of course be put in, says the Dane.
NRK expert Kristoffer Løkberg believes the situation deserved a better fate.
– Things happen a lot to her. At the same time, it is a corner variant that Denmark used X number of times during the match, so it is clearly rehearsed. It is one that is inexplicably not going to be a goal, even for the person in the situation. But things happen much faster than you think, and the reaction time is often not good enough, says Løkberg.
Thus, it was not a great opening for the Danes, and in the next game France awaits…
Disappointed Danes
In front of NRK, Denmark captain Simon Kjær is disappointed with his own performance.
– We are missing a bit of the last bit on the last third of the pitch. We would like to play a little faster. When we did that, we also moved them and got a lot of space. We are disappointed that we did not get three points today, but we also know that it is a long tournament, says Kjær to NRK.
Denmark player Joakim Mæhle believes that Denmark lacked the game, but that the pace is not due to burying itself after a draw against Tunisia.
– Tunisia is a strong team. The positive thing is that we keep zero, says Mæhle to NRK.
The match was barely underway when the Danes got a taste of what to expect. Then Tunisia’s Aissa Laidouni put in a sucking tackle on Christian Eriksen, before he gestured violently towards the stands, which were packed with Tunisians.
The roar he got back showed that this was going to be anything but a pleasant day at work for the Danes.
Violent tribune life
Kasper Hjulmand was prepared for the intense atmosphere and saw before the game that he feared it would be like a home ground for the Tunisians – and he was right. NRK’s reporter set the stage at the Education City Stadium, but the violent sound level from enthusiastic Tunisians was to feel from the first second.
– The atmosphere here is extraordinary, was the verdict of the BBC’s John Bennett.
The match was 24 minutes old when the first big goal chance presented itself. Issam Jebali was wasted alone with the keeper and scored, but Mexican referee Cesar Ramos correctly disallowed the goal for offside.
The same Jebali got another great chance not long after, but then Kasper Schmeichel showed up with an excellent save on Jebali’s chip attempt and knocked the ball out to the corner. Thus it was 0-0 at the break.
Denmark, which for a long time struggled to create dangerous conditions in front of the Tunisian goal, woke up moments to live a little in others. First, a goal by Andreas Skov Olsen was correctly disallowed for offside, before Mikkel Damsgaard headed just wide a minute later.
One who really entertained the audience was Tunisian Laidouni. He used every opportunity to fire up the crowd, and on the field he laid down one rushing tackle after another.
Eriksen close
Then Denmark could have taken the lead with Christian Eriksen loading the cannon after 69 minutes played. But the shot from just outside the penalty area was well saved by keeper Aymen Dahmen.
Soon after, Cornelius got the chance he is unlikely to remember fondly when he looks back on his football career as a pensioner.
In overtime, the Danes called for a penalty after a handball in the box, but after a VAR check, the referee ruled that the game should continue.
0-0 was the final result.
Denmark’s next game in the World Cup is against France next Saturday. You will find her entire WC programme: