With the European Championships now entering knock-out territory, things have become distinctly make or break for the Manchester United stars dreaming over glory over in Germany.
Luke Shaw could finally make his tournament bow against Slovakia on Sunday. According to The Telegraph, meanwhile, a first ever competitive start could be the reward for Kobbie Mainoo after his impressive cameo off the bench in Tuesday’s insomnia-curing Slovenia stalemate.
Portugal were dreadful in defeat by Georgia, completely devoid of creativity in the absence of a rested Bruno Fernandes. Roberto Martinez’s talisman will be pretty much the first name on the team sheet when the Iberian’s kick off against the aforementioned Slovenia on Monday.
Few will give Denmark much of a chance, meanwhile, against tournament hosts Germany. Especially given the manner in which Julian Nagelsmann’s side swaggered out of the group-stage, that draw with Switzerland aside.
Denmark, meanwhile, have largely underwhelmed. The Scandinavians have only scored twice so far, with an isolated Rasmus Hojlund cutting the same frustrated figure Manchester United fans saw during his 16-game wait for a Premier League goal.
Manchester United duo face Germany at Euro 2024
Hojlund has now gone eight months and seven matches without hitting the net for his country. Germany in the last-16 would be a pretty good time to break that duck.
Though it is Hojlund’s Man United and Denmark team-mate who has former Germany midfielder Stefan Effenberg concerned, Christian Eriksen’s Euro journey turning from despair to joy in an arc almost biblical in it’s inception.
“It will be difficult. The Danes haven’t won a game and only finished second because they got fewer yellow cards than Slovenia,” Effenberg tells Record.
“But that they also have one player in particular, Christian Eriksen, who can make the difference with his creativity.”
Three years after he nearly lost his life in Copenhagen, Eriksen captured the hearts of the entire footballing family when he brilliantly converted a fine Jonas Wind assist in Denmark’s group-stage curtain raiser against Slovenia.
“This is a team that adapts to its opponent and to different situations,” adds Effenberg, who was part of that Bayern Munich team undone by Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on that night in Barcelona.
“They want to annoy us. And, of course, they will love it if they knock us out of the tournament in our own country.”
Christian Eriksen and Rasmus Hojlund dreaming of quarters
Eriksen may have gone into the Euros somewhat undercooked given his lack of game time at Manchester United but you wouldn’t know it. The veteran playmaker finished off a genuine Goal of the Tournament contender on matchday one and currently tops the charts for the most key passes in the competition.
Beyond Eriksen and Hojlund, however, it is another Danish ace who has earned the admiration of former Man United right-back Paul Parker.
And, after lashing a 30-yard thunderbolt into England’s net, Parker believes that United could do worse than to look into reuniting Sporting Lisbon enforcer Morten Hjulmand with Rasmus Hojlund at club level.
“I think (his performances have) been crazy. I haven’t seen all the matches with him at Sporting (Lisbon), but I have seen some. And he has just completely dominated there,” the two-time Premier League champion tells Spil X Sperten.
“He became captain in Serie A (with Lecce) at the age of 22. So that shows a boy with great leadership. These are exactly the leadership qualities that Manchester United could use.
“When I look at him, I see in many ways a younger version of Casemiro. Manchester United could really use that. He is solid on the ball, he is strong in the duels, and then he will go through fire and water for his team-mates.
“I really hope that they sign him, and then Manchester United can get a Danish axis, which are players who always give 100 per cent.”
