United professional with pacemaker
Denmark’s national coach Kasper Hjulmand relies on the quality of his playmaker Christian Eriksen in the important World Cup preliminary round match against world champions France. “I would like to clone him. I would like to have him in the back of my own penalty area and in front of the other goal,” said the former Mainz 05 Bundesliga coach on Friday at his press conference before the second group game on Saturday (5 p.m. / ARD and MagentaTV).
“On my first day as national coach, I said the same thing as my predecessor Age Hareide and his predecessor Morten Olsen: Christian is the heart of this team,” Hjulmand continued. The 30-year-old Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest at last year’s European Championship 2020, but then continued his career with a pacemaker. In the summer, the midfielder was even signed by English record champions Manchester United.
The Danes beat reigning world champions France twice in the Nations League this year, but started the World Cup in Qatar much worse with their 0-0 win against Tunisia. France won 4-1 against Australia. Despite the many injured players, Hjulmand still thinks the French are one of the best teams in the world: “France have an unbelievable number of top players. The opportunities and talent available to the French are spectacular.”
World Cup 2022: The most valuable players per nation
Akram Afif | Qatar | Al Sadd SC | Market value: €4 million
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Squad value: €14.9m
Keylor Navas | Costa Rica | PSG | Market value: €5 million
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Squad value: €18.75m
Sultan Al-Ghannam | Saudi Arabia | Al-Nassr FC | Market value: €2.5 million
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Squad value: €25.2m
Matthew Ryan | Australia | FC Copenhagen | Market value: €5 million
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Squad value: €37.3m
Mehdi Taremi | Iran | FC Porto | Market value: €20 million
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Squad value: €59.53m
Ellyes Skhiri | Tunisia | 1. FC Cologne | Market value: €13 million
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Squad value: €62.4m
Moises Caicedo | Ecuador | Brighton | Market value: €13 million
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Squad value: €146.5m
Daichi Kamada | Japan | Eintracht Frankfurt | Market value: €30 million
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Squad value: €154m
Frank Anguissa | Cameroon | SSC Napoli | Market value: €38 million
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Squad value: €155m
Ben Davis | Wales | Tottenham | Market value: €20 million*
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Squad value: €160.15m
*plus Brennan Johnson (Nottingham; MV €20m)
Heung Min Son | South Korea | Tottenham | Market value: €70 million
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Squad value: €164.48m
Edson Alvarez | Mexico | ajax | Market value: €35 million
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Squad value: €176.1m
Alphonso Davies | Canada | Bayern Munich | Market value: €70 million
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Squad value: €187.3m
Thomas Partey | Ghana | Arsenal | Market value: €38 million
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Squad value: €216.9m
Kalidou Koulibaly | Senegal | Chelsea | Market value: €35 million
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Squad value: €229.5m
Achraf Hakimi | Morocco | PSG | Market value: €65 million
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Squad value: €241.1m
Robert Lewandowski | Poland | FC Barcelona | Market value: €45 million
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Squad value: €255.6m
Christian Pulisic | United States | Chelsea | Market value: €38 million
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Squad value: €277.4m
Manuel Akanji | Switzerland | Manchester City | Market value: €30 million
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Squad value: €281m
Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg | Denmark | Tottenham | Market value: €45 million
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Squad value: €353m
Dušan Vlahovic | Serbia | Juventus | Market value: €80 million
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Squad value: €359.5m
Josko Gvardiol | Croatia | RB Leipzig | Market value: €60 million
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Squad value: €377 million
Federico Valverde | Uruguay | Madrid | Market value: €100 million
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Squad value: €449.7m
Kevin De Bruyne | Belgium | Manchester City | Market value: €80 million
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Squad value: €563.2m
Matthijs de Ligt | Netherlands | Bayern Munich | Market value: €70 million
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Squad value: €587.25m
Lautaro Martinez | Argentina | Inter | Market value: €75 million
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Squad value: €645.2m
Peter | Spain | FC Barcelona | Market value: €100 million
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Squad value: €877m
Yamal Musiala | Germany | Bayern Munich | Market value: €100 million
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Squad value: €885.5m
Rafael Leao | Portugal | Milan | Market value: €85 million
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Squad value: €937m
Kylian Mbappe | France | PSG | Market value: €160 million
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Squad value: €997.5m
Vinicius Jr. | Brazil | Madrid | Market value: €120 million
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Squad value: €1.14bn
Phil Foden | UK | Manchester City | Market value: €110 million
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Squad value: €1.26bn
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