After “Fiasco” in the playoffs
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While the joy about direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup in Scotland knew no bounds on Wednesday, there was a mood of sadness in Denmark. There was talk of a “fiasco” in numerous media after the 2:4 defeat against the “Bravehearts”, which started with the sending off of defender Rasmus Kristensen when the score was 1:1. The professional employed by Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt addressed emotional words to the team and the public after the game.
Although the yellow-red card for the 28-year-old in the 61st minute was certainly controversial, the Danes had the game largely under control up to that point – and the World Cup ticket was secure. Lawrence Shankland gave the Scots, who then had the advantage, the lead 17 minutes later. Manchester United’s Patrick Dorgu’s equalizer in the 81st minute briefly fueled Danish hopes, but they were dashed coldly by Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean in stoppage time, causing Glasgow’s Hampden Park to shake.
“I embarrassed myself by getting a red card when we had full control and the result we needed. We lost the chance because of me,” said a shocked-looking Kristensen to the TV cameras after the final whistle of the game. The defensive giant, described by Denmark’s national coach Brian Riemer as a “warrior” in the run-up to the game, watched the rest of the game slumped in front of a TV in the catacombs of the stadium.
“It was terrible. Time passed incredibly slowly. I just sat there and prayed as much as I could. It’s the biggest disappointment I’ve experienced. I feel guilty,” said the 32-time national player. Lazio Rome professional Gustav Isaksen defended his disappointed teammate after the game: “He sees it that way, and that’s fine, but the rest of us could have done better. I feel sorry for him. He’s a fantastic guy who always takes responsibility.”
Denmark in the World Cup playoffs: avoid Sweden at all costs
The reasons and measures discussed as part of the review of the game in Denmark on Wednesday ranged from a possibly incorrect distribution of roles to the accusation of a lack of spirit within the team to the question of the coach. Riemer in particular got his fat off. “The national coach himself said before the qualification that Denmark had the best team and the strongest squad. After six games, I have to say that it is the coach who lacks ability,” wrote Michel Wikkelsø Davidsen, editor-in-chief of Bold.dk, the largest football media in Denmark.
Before the draw for the World Cup playoffs on Thursday (1 p.m.), there is great fear in the neighboring country that they will miss next year’s World Cup tournament. It would be the eleventh time in the association’s history that they failed to qualify. The last time Danish Dynamite did not take part in a finals was in 2014.
Northern Ireland, North Macedonia, Romania or Sweden are the possible opponents in the semi-finals, with the latter being described as a “horror scenario” by several experts in the country on Wednesday. Tenor: Nothing would be more humiliating for the Danish football soul than a defeat against Tre Kronor and the consequence of having to watch both the Swedish and Norwegian neighbors from the sofa in 2026.
Junker: “Would be the biggest disappointment in modern World Cup history”
However, if you prevail in the semi-finals, it wouldn’t be much easier: Poland, Wales, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ireland, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo would then be possible opponents. One thing is clear: the national team will be a topic in Denmark for a few more days and the playoffs will captivate an entire football nation next spring.
Former national striker and “TV 2 Sports” expert Mads Junker sees coach Riemer’s team as favored in the playoffs in principle, but also predicted on Wednesday: “In the worst case scenario, we will lose as favorites in March and have wasted many chances, even though Danish football has otherwise reached the final round of a major tournament four times in a row and is generally in a pretty good position. That would be the biggest disappointment in modern World Cup history.”
