Denmark v Tunisia: World Cup 2022 – live | World Cup 2022

Nick Ames spent time in Doha in the Denmark campand reminds us of the formula of their recent successes.

The addition of Eriksen to the unit which, without his unparalleled ingenuity, has captured so many imaginations should help tip the numbers favorably. The team appear well balanced, with Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Thomas Delaney either side of him in midfield while Simon Kjær, celebrated for his reaction to Eriksen’s collapse, returned from a long injury to anchor defense. Atalanta’s Joakim Mæhle will bombard from left-back while Mikkel Damsgaard and Kasper Dolberg remain bright sparks in attack.

Kasper Hjulmand, Denmark coach, also spoke ahead of that game. He was asked – of course – about Christian Eriksen.

After he came back, it was amazing. The second he stepped onto the pitch for the first time in Amsterdam, against the Netherlands, he just took control of the game and scored, and he’s been getting better and better ever since. He is the rhythm, he is the heart of our team, the pulse of our game. He is a wonderful footballer.

Tunisian coach Jalel Kadri talked about before this game. As a reminder: Tunisia has never passed the group stage of a World Cup.

Our group will not be easy, the draw has not been kind. Denmark are among the best teams in Europe. We know they have high quality in every department. But we will give it our all. We have our strengths, but we also know our weaknesses. We are aware that we will be compared to former Tunisian teams.

Tunisia has two players in the Danish league, Anis Ben Slimane in Brondby and Issam Jebali in Odense.

Martin Braithwaite, the former Barcelona player from Denmark now the Espanyol striker whose name reminds you of the boy whose parents ran the grocers, has spoken to Sid Lowe.

Asked if the cardiac arrest suffered by Christian Eriksen played a role in the team change, Braithwaite said: “It changed every individual, more than the group: it was beyond football .” There’s an extended pause, his calm tone when he finally resumes. “Life goes by so quickly, you have to enjoy every moment. We went through it together, we will always share this feeling. It’s kind of a fairy tale now that we’re at the World Cup and Christian is part of the team. No one could imagine this. »

We Premier League viewers are used to seeing him play again, but Christian Eriksen’s return to a major tournament scene is surely a momentous one. Less than 18 months ago, his meltdown and cardiac arrest halted Euro 2020, and his return to top-flight football is one of the game’s good news. And he’s a member of a rather hands-on Danish squad , who did very well without him, becoming one of the best in Europe. They won nine of 10 qualifying games for this tournament, scoring 30 and conceding three, and reached the semi-finals of the Nations League.

Eriksen’s supporting cast, which has reached the last eight euros without him, is full of quality, from Kasper Schmeichel to Kasper Dolberg. And it’s a team that has shown a humanitarian side, Hummel removed from his jersey, training in all black, and it remains to be seen if there is a Fifa-like gesture that threatens sanctions.

Their opponents? Tunisia are in their sixth World Cup final and aim to reach the round of 16. With a number of their players playing in Qatar, they should be acclimated to the environment and will make it difficult for the Danes with the defensive formation that Jalel Kadri usually picks for decent opposition. Youssef Msakni is their key man, although Sunderland legend Wahbi Khazri and Manchester United loanee Hannibal Mejbri could make appearances.

Kick-off is at 1.00pm UK time at the Education City Stadium

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