In recent years, Denmark has long been built around its four pillars, Kasper Schmeichel, Simon Kjaer, Thomas Delaney and Christian Eriksen. Known to be very conservative, where places in the group seemed acquired for eternity as for a member of the French Academy, the Scandinavian selection has been dusted off since the appointment of Kasper Hjulmand in 2020, who does not hesitate to launch new youngsters.
Rasmus Hojlund, the headliner
21 years old, Manchester United striker, 17 caps (7 goals)
It is the last nugget of Danish football, the one which must finally succeed the past scorers (Jon Dahl Tomasson, Nicklas Bendtner, Preben Elkjaer Larsen, Allan Simonsen), so rare in the history of the country. Transferred to Manchester United from Atalanta Bergamo last summer, Rasmus Hojlund had a contrasting season, rather effective in the Champions League (5 goals in 6 matches), while he waited months before scoring in the Championship (10 goals in 30 matches). Kasper Hjulmand maintained unfailing trust in him despite everything. Removed at the last moment from the list for the World Cup in Qatar, Hojlund is therefore playing his first major competition with a lot of ambitions and… criticism too: he remains in seven matches for the selection without the slightest goal.
Victor Kristiansen, the new
21 years old, left back for Bologna, 11 caps (0 goals)
This is Kasper Hjulmand’s latest discovery. It was at Bologna, where he was loaned for the season by Leicester, that this left-handed side revealed himself under the orders of Thiago Motta. Kasper Hjulmand had already spotted him, offering him his first cap just a year ago against Slovenia (1-1, June 19, 2023), in Euro qualifying, before installing him as a starter at full part. Since the start of the competition, Victor Kristiansen has had to share the two piston positions with Joakim Maehle and Alexander Bah.
Andreas Skov Olsen, le polyvalent
24 years old, striker for FC Bruges, 32 caps (8 goals)
Appearing for the selection four years ago, Andreas Skov Olsen is one of the first players of the new generation to be called up by Kasper Hjulmand. If he is still limited to a joker role, he is playing his third major competition in Germany, after Euro 2021 and the 2022 World Cup. This powerful striker has the advantage of his versatility: he can play on the side straight, above all, but also opposite as in support of a point.
Mikkel Damsgaard, le pressé
21 years old, Brentford striker, 28 caps (4 goals)
Revelation of Euro 2021, scorer in the semi-finals against England (1-2 ap), the striker did not confirm the potential he had hinted at during the previous competition. Mikkel Damsgaard made a career choice which perhaps slowed him down, with his frail figure, by choosing to leave Italy (Sampdoria Genoa) for England (Brentford), in 2022. Injured throughout the first part of season (adductors, knee), he returned in time to be called up with his selection, where he is now confined to a joker role.
Morten Hjulmand, le tardif
25 years old, midfielder for Sporting Lisbon, 10 caps (1 goal)
He is not a promising youngster who is starting out, but at 25, he has a certain freshness at this level. His first selection was less than a year ago, against San Marino (4-0, on September 7, 2023). It must be said that he had a late blossoming by taking more obscure paths, from Admira Wacker (Austria) to Lecce (Italy) before revealing himself at Sporting (Portugal) this season. Mainly considered as a backup until then, Morten Hjulmand had settled in the middle alongside Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg over the last few weeks. But he will be suspended for this match against Germany.
