Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand says Germany will have to be “very, very good” to beat his team in tomorrow’s Euro 2024 round of 16 clash in Dortmund.
Germany cruised through Group A, although they did need a last-gasp Niclas Fullkrug equaliser against Switzerland to ensure they claimed top spot.
That set up a clash with a Denmark side that came runners-up to England in Group C.
Hjulmand’s side have looked solid, if unspectacular, so far and he is predicting a tough evening for the tournament hosts at Signal Iduna Park.
He said: “At the start I considered Germany one of the favourites, and it’s too bad that they’re playing us tomorrow. They have quality and talent, and expressed themselves very well in the group. But we also have quality and talent, and they’ll have to be very, very good to beat us.”
Round of 16 fixtures ✅
Eight ties across four nights 🍿@bookingcom | #EUROfixtures pic.twitter.com/H3KujpXc9S
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 28, 2024
Denmark reached the semi-finals of Euro 2020 and Hjulmand expects his players to cope with the pressure, adding: “It’s important that we believe in ourselves and the strengths we have. We have played a lot of matches against very good teams in the last few years. We have always been very competitive, so we have a strength in our team mentality and the way we play.
“We are very focused and can’t wait to get started. We have been aiming for this. We went through a very difficult group, and we are ready. It’s a big thing for us, and we are looking forward to giving them a big match tomorrow.”
Defender Jannik Vestergaard is relishing the fact Germany will go into the game as favourites and with the added pressure of playing in front of an expectant home crowd.
He said: “We know that to win the tournament it would be a bit of an upset. But we like being underdogs. Germany will be favourites, but we like being a bit of a pain to the opposition and playing to our strengths.
“They are a very good team. They are at home. They will have amazing support from their fans in this stadium. They will definitely be in the majority. So it’s a very tough game for us but a game that we still believe that we can do something in, and one that we are looking forward to.”
Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen did not train today due to a stomach problem but he is expected to be fit for tomorrow.
