DOHA (VG) (Denmark – Tunisia 0–0) After a very disappointing Danish WC opening, Simon Kjær did not have to answer sporting questions. The Denmark captain was also pressed about the threats surrounding the use of the rainbow colored captain’s armband.

For Kjær answered like several of his fellow captains in this year’s World Cup: He does not understand FIFA’s threats sporting sanctions if he and others wear a rainbow colored captain’s armband to support LGBT+ dishes.

The World Cup nations that have participated in the campaign have all chosen to drop its use.

It can cost them a good card before the match has even started. As is well known, two yellow cards lead to red and thus expulsion.

– I think it is completely final that we are not allowed to do that, says the Denmark captain who plays for the Italian Serie A club Milan on a daily basis.

– There are many who believe that you should have taken the yellow card, countered a Danish reporter and looked at Kjær.

– Do you mean it? replied the centre-back – with an even tighter look.

– I am asking you…

– I mean, do you think I should have entered the field with a good card, and after just five minutes risked getting the red and putting football aside in a World Cup?

– That is where the problem lies

When the reporter stated that Kjær has only incurred four yellow cards throughout his career, the Denmark captain blacked out like this:

– There are also coincidences in football. It is far too easy to just say that you have to take a yellow card and go on the pitch.

However, Kjær asks how football has ended up in a situation where using a captain’s armband has sporting consequences. A captain’s armband they have also played with in the past.

– That is where the problem lies. The problem is not whether you want to have a chance and start the match with a good card.

Even though the Danes’ opening game against Tunisia was very disappointing, most of the use and non-use of captain’s armbands was handled.

Jaokim Mæhle – left-back on the national team and for the Serie A club Atalanta – is unsure whether the debate has affected the team.

– But I don’t think it’s right. Of course, it must be allowed to play with «OneLove» armbands. There is no doubt about that. I didn’t know Germany went to court, but I think that’s fine. Football should be for everyone.

When asked by Nettavisen whether the captain’s tie could still be used, Mæhle replies “maybe”.

– But with yellow cards you have quarantine. From a purely sporting point of view, it is difficult. We have talked about whether we should enter the field with armbands and then take it off at the start of the match.

Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand commented on zero scored goals and one point in the opening game like this to Danish TV 2.

– I am frustrated because of the performance. We got off to a bad start in the first half. We play too nervously and slowly.

Fired up the crowd

With tens of thousands of Tunisians living in Qatar, it was perhaps no surprise that the North Africans would make their mark in the stands.

The atmosphere from the long line of honking cars, with flags and sashes hanging out of the route, lasted all the way into the Education City Stadium.

The gradually worn-out term “witch’s pot” came into its own again when the Tunisians in the stands alternated between deafening and almost deafening beeping depending on which way the ball bounced.

The hosts were clearly aware of the “home advantage”. Even before the minute was wasted, one of the match’s big profiles, Aissa Laidouni, tried to fire up the crowd. And he got answers to those degrees.

Former Rosenborg player Issam Jebali came closest when he – possibly with the help of a fine offside – came alone with the keeper, but Kasper Schmeichel saved brilliantly.

Nevertheless, the Tunisians celebrated and cheered for a point as if it should host three. For the Danes, however, there was a strong contrast to the team that both charmed and moved the audience all the way to the semi-final exit against England in last year’s EC.

– We get started very late, says striker Kasper Dolberg.

After a very disappointing first half, the Danes really came into their own a little more after the break. After some intervention from coach Kasper Hjulmand, the red shirts came close to scoring both once and twice.

First, team captain Christian Eriksen swept in with his left foot in his first championship game since the heart attack during the EC match in Copenhagen last yearbut Tunisia goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen produced a good save.

Substitute Andreas Cornelius was even closer on the subsequent corner park. Andreas Christensen headed the ball back into the field, where Cornelius – perhaps characterized by fear of colliding with the post – sent the ball into the metal from barely half a metre.

The Danes pressed on in the final minutes, but it was not to be. Thus it ended goalless for the Danes – who were in no way cheered and encouraged in their pursuit of victory.

The draw means that right now it seems completely open in group D.

Later on Thursday evening, the other two teams in the group meet when reigning champions France open the World Cup against Australia.

That match is broadcast on NRK 1 and kicks off at 9:00 p.m.