DENMARK – TUNISIA | Tuesday 2pm
Considered by insiders to be the most credible outsider in these World Cups, Denmark have landed in Qatar with plenty of enthusiasm and a desire to impress. And it could not be otherwise after the excellent European Championship a year and a half ago, which saw the selection coached by Kasper Hjulmand reach the semi-finals and put the fear of God into the English favourites, who also had the advantage of playing in their own Wembley stadium. After narrowly missing out on the final (they would have met Italy), the Scandinavians also confirmed their performance in the qualifiers, dominating their group. The only defeat came only on the last day, but when the game was over. Denmark did not disappoint even in the most recent edition of the Nations League, where they came close to qualifying for the Final Four: the two defeats against Croatia were fatal, but otherwise Eriksen and his team-mates had the luxury of beating France twice.
Recovering their captain after a near tragedy in the opening match against Finland at Euro 2020, Hjulmand’s national team now have everything they need to become a loose cannon. The coach can count on a mix of young and experienced players and almost all of them play in Europe’s top leagues. It is a team that scores with great frequency, as evidenced by the thirty goals scored in the qualifying campaign. There are those who claim that they can play against defending champion France for first place in Group D, provided, however, that they do not miss the two challenges against Tunisia and Australia.
The feeling, therefore, is that the North African national team’s back is already against the wall, if the objective is to avert a probable Franco-Danish duopoly and conquer a place in the knockout phase, which has always remained a mirage in the five participations in the final phase of a World Cup. Tunisia, after a disappointing African Cup of Nations last January, are in Qatar thanks to a successful double-header against Mali in the play-off. In the last five friendlies they have scored four victories, a record tainted by the heavy defeat (5-1) against Brazil. A few days ago, Jalel Kadri’s men beat Iran 2-0.
Denmark-Tunisia: latest line-up news
Some of Tunisia’s players
In Denmark we find several players who play in the Italian league. In the three-man defence, for example, the Milan player Kjaer stands out, flanked by Andersen and Christensen. On the left lane, coach Hjulmand relies on the Atalanta-born Maehle, while on the other side there is space for Kristensen, a player who is showing off in the Premier League with Leeds. In the middle two certainties like Hojbjerg and Delaney, while Eriksen will play in a more advanced position: together with former Bologna player Skov Olsen will support striker Braithwaite, who in all probability will win the ballot with Dolberg.
In Tunisia all eyes will be on Skhiri, who will be positioned in midfield between Ben Slimane and Mejbri. The presence of Khazri, a forward from Montpellier in Ligue 1, is in doubt. In defence, Bronn, a centre-back from Salernitana, risks his place.
The Prediction
Like all North African teams, Tunisia relies on a decent tactical organisation, but from the midfield upwards, quality does not abound. There are few players – Skhiri of Cologne being one of them – with good individual technique. Denmark, therefore, should have no problem piercing through a defence that appeared in enormous difficulty in the friendly against Brazil and get their hands on their first three points, in a match in which they could score at least two goals without conceding any.
Denmark-Tunisia’s likely line-up
- DENMARK (3-4-2-1): Schmeichel; Andersen, Kjaer, Christensen; Kristensen, Hojbjerg, Delaney, Maehle; Eriksen, Skov Olsen; Braithwaite.
- TUNISIA (4-3-3): Dahmen; Drager, Ifa, Talbi, Abdi; Ben Slimane, Skhiri, Mejbri; Jaziri, Sliti, Msakni.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-0
