Brian Riemer tonight insisted Denmark will not be adversely affected by the sickness bug which has swept through their squad ahead of the Scotland game despite Anders Dreyer being ruled out of the World Cup qualifier and Rasmus Hojlund not being fully fit.
Riemer’s men squandered a chance to book a place at Canada, Mexico and the United States next summer when they were held to a 2-2 draw by minnows Belarus in Copenhagen on Saturday evening.
However, it has since emerged that several of the Group C leaders’ players had been laid low during the build-up to kick-off and San Diego forward Dreyer did not fly to Glasgow with his countrymen yesterday.
Asked for a Denmark squad update ahead of meeting with Scotland tomorrow evening, Riemer said, “Unfortunately, I had to take the decision with my doctor to leave him [Dreyer] back home.
“As for Hojlund, he was ill ahead of Belarus on Saturday and on Sunday we mostly focus on recovery so for us it was a relatively obvious decision to not have him train with the group, to just have him do his own thing. As for him starting tomorrow, I’m a bit unsure. Maybe he will play 90 minutes, maybe not. We will see tomorrow.
“I will not sit here and lie to you and say that I've enjoyed the small bumps we have had with the illness. Every coach will always choose to come into a camp and have no injuries, no illnesses, no problems, no suspensions.
“But I must say in my year so far as coach of Denmark there’s been something, players looking for clubs, illnesses, injuries, suspensions, every single time. It is part of the job as a manager.
“At the end of the day, we know we have a good squad. That's my feeling - we have great players who start the game and we have great players on the bench. It's a top group and they are really behind each other. So for me it's not a big thing. But, of course, at the end of the day you prefer that that you don't have these problems.”
Meanwhile, Riemer has dismissed fears that Denmark’s disappointing draw against Belarus will have damaged his players’ confidence and predicted they will rise to the occasion in the World Cup decider.
Read more
“I don't think anyone has that mindset,” he said. “We play for a World Cup ticket tomorrow. What happened in the first game, second game and fifth game is completely irrelevant at this stage.
“To sit in the changing room after in the Scotland game and not have secured World Cup qualification because we had a hangover from a Belarus game? I don't think that's possible.
“With top professional football, they know what it's all about. It's the big dream for this squad, the big target for the team tomorrow. We have a job that we need to sort. They also do that every week for their clubs.
“I don't think teams go through the season, whether it's club football or international football, without bumps. You overcome them, that's what good teams do. You go out and confirm your qualities in the next game. So let's hope we do that tomorrow.”
Denmark were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Scotland back in September. But their legendary midfielder Christian Eriksen was not involved that night because he was without a club. The 147-times capped 33-year-old is back in the squad and should feature in the rematch.
“His career speaks for itself,” said Riemer. “He is one of the still-playing Danish legends. I spoke to him the other day and he told me he had played almost half his life for the national team. That's quite something.
“But we have a really good squad. This team has turned into a really good unit in the last couple of years. We don't rely on one player. We have shown that every time we have performed with new players.
“That’s the main strength for this team at the moment, that we are not a one player team, a one star team. For me, that is a really comforting feeling. That also means you have a lot of players who can decide the game. I'm sure that that tomorrow that will also be the case.”
Share