Denmark are constantly a side dubbed a dark horse when it comes to international tournaments. On top of that, they became everybody’s second favourite team with the squad unity, particularly in and around the incident involving Christian Eriksen.
The Manchester United man is back and better than ever and he isn’t alone: Denmark youngster Mikkel Damsgaard is another forward who can make a difference.
Denmark Youngster Mikkel Damsgaard Can Make a Difference for His Country
Brentford Man Hopes to Be Good for a Starting Spot
The aforementioned Christian Eriksen crisis was a dark time in the history of this sport, but there was some light that came out of it. Of course, there was a swelling of love in the footballing community, plus Eriksen fully recovered.
As well as that though, a 20-year-old who was yet to receive any huge exposure got his chance.
Denmark youngster Mikkel Damsgaard is the man in question. He was a Sampdoria player at the time and he was gifted the opportunity as a result of his teammate’s fortune. Damsgaard snatched this opportunity with both hands and made a massive impact from the off for Kasper Hjulmand’s side.
🚨 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: Denmark have announced their squad for the World Cup. 🇩🇰 pic.twitter.com/SzRE3Hrz1m
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) November 8, 2022
Eriksen has adapted into a deeper role and so he is no longer part of the frontline. Kasper Dolberg, Martin Braithwaite and Andreas Cornelius are the trio competing for the Danish central striker role, with Dolberg of Nice the most likely candidate. He led the line in the most recent outing, a 2-0 win over France (who happen to be in their World Cup group) back in September, in the Nations League.
Also on the field in that pre-emptive clash with the French was Damsgaard and Club Brugge’s Andreas Skov Olsen. That pair of 22-year-olds either side of a dominant forward with the likes of Eriksen and Thomas Delaney behind them is a dangerous unit indeed. Damsgaard will be hoping that Hjulmand continues along this path.
Read More: Bribes and Broken Promises: The Issues Behind the Qatar World Cup 2022
All About Denmark Youngster Mikkel Damsgaard
Who Mikkel Damsgaard is has been touched on already, albeit briefly. He made his big break at the Euros last summer, earning an expensive move over to the Premier League. Furthering their Danish links, Brentford snapped up the Sampdoria man for 15 million euros, a hugely beneficial deal for both parties.
Bees’ manager Thomas Frank and the club in general, regularly succeed when it comes to smart investments. The chances are that the move for Denmark youngster Mikkel Damsgaard will pay off one way or another. His talent is there for all to see, but he hasn’t had the strongest start to Premier League life. Damsgaard has failed to contribute to a goal yet and has only got onto the pitch for 261 minutes.
– Bringing high familiarity as the top 10 players by minutes have many matches together
– Incredible variety in attack, though Eriksen leads whole contributions and Damsgaard leads minutes per contribution
– Rely on old players plus a few key mid-20 year olds led by Hjobjerg pic.twitter.com/w5CV67Vg3L— underperforming my expected beers (@seeingthegame) November 16, 2022
Damsgaard’s fortunes for his country tell a very different story. In six appearances, five of which were starts, he has contributed two goals and four assists in the World Cup qualifying to get to Qatar. His country as a whole bossed the qualification stage and he played a huge role in that. At Euro 2020, he wrote his name in lights, with goals against Russia and England.
The latter is certainly the standout- a free-kick from far out that beat Jordan Pickford and forced extra time. Danes everywhere will be hoping for a repeat campaign from the Brentford man.
