Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund has revealed the emotional text message he sent to a friend after Denmark’s Euro 2024 exit.
In a game temporarily suspended by a huge storm in Dortmund, Denmark were eliminated of the Euros by hosts Germany, who won 2-0 to progress to the quarter-finals.
Denmark frustrated Germany for almost an hour and had a goal disallowed for offside before the home side asserted their dominance and advanced courtesy of second-half goals from Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala.
It was a disappointing end to an underwhelming Euros game for Denmark, who drew all three of their group games, finishing second in Group C behind England.
‘I texted one of my friends that I felt a bit guilty. It’s a weird sentimental mix, because there’s also pride.
‘Obviously we wanted to bring the cup home, but the thing that will always bring me pride, both as a footballer and a Dane: Vi er røde, vi er hvide. Vi står sammen, side om side.’
Hojlund endured an underwhelming first season at Manchester United, scoring 16 goals in 43 appearances following a £72m move from Serie A side Atalanta last summer.
The 21-year-old’s Old Trafford team-mate Christian Eriksen scored in Denmark’s Euros opener but ex-Premier League star Rafael van der Vaart was disappointed by his performance at the tournament as a whole.
‘I expected more from them – and also Eriksen,’ he told NOS. ‘We all have a soft spot for him because of what happened to his heart.
‘You still see his class in glimpses but I wanted to see more, I have to be honest.
‘They have quite a few players in big clubs, but I don’t think they have played so well in this tournament that you think “wow”.’
Germany will face Spain or Georgia in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals before a potential semi-final meeting with World Cup finalists France or Portugal.
