Denmark head coach Kasper Hjulmand named Manchester United duo Christian Eriksen and Rasmus Hojlund in his national squad for the upcoming March friendlies on Tuesday.
One of the big talking points in Denmark is that Eriksen, Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg and Mikkel Damsgaard has been selected, despite playing few minutes for their clubs.
We must also remember that international football is played a much slower tempo and pace than what is expected of these experienced players at club level, especially in the top leagues.
Eriksen has not featured as regularly for United this season and we can’t pretend that the influence he had on the team last term hasn’t been missed. The 32-year-old is likely to leave Old Trafford at the end of the campaign, after managing just 11 starts for the Reds so far this season.
Tipsbladet spoke to former Everton, Real Madrid and Denmark midfielder Thomas Gravesen, who doesn’t hold back on his feelings towards Hjulmand’s latest squad.
“The Christian Eriksen we all know, he’s no longer there. Christian Eriksen doesn’t play football anymore. Christian Eriksen sits on the bench and watches football. Christian Eriksen, as we know him, he’s gone. We must not regress to the idea that it’s only based on merits that he gets selected. Christian Eriksen should not only be selected based on his merits.
“You simply have to respect the people who work tirelessly day in and day out, playing football and succeeding on the field. That is something you must respect. You have to respect the work that goes on in the Superliga.
“But they’re not playing! My point is that when Pierre-Emile Højbjerg played at full throttle, he was the best player we had in midfield. When Thomas Delaney played in Dortmund at full throttle, he was the best player. When Damsgaard flourished at Sampdoria, he was the best. When they play, there’s no doubt the big leagues abroad are the best. But now a handful of players are returning without confidence. Kasper Hjulmand selects players who don’t come home with a bag of energy.
“My point is, you have to select some players who have the groove and who have success and confidence. Yes, Christian Eriksen has shown at his top level that he’s better than Nicolai Vallys. But Nicolai Vallys hasn’t had the chance to showcase himself among players of a higher calibre. Give him the chance when he’s in the gear he’s in. All things considered, Vallys is in 100 times better form than Christian Eriksen.”
Gravensen doesn’t believe Eriksen has a place in the national team anymore.
He added: “The idea is that we should be able to use these games to integrate players. His constant preaching about how we need relationships, and we need to do this and that – he even selected 26 men! He also has a Kasper Dolberg with him, who has started a bit but who is not at all justified to be in the national team squad. And neither is Christian Eriksen.
“You simply can’t take a player who hasn’t played in two and a half months. He got 38 minutes against Fulham, where we also lost that match, when he came in. He shouldn’t be played into form on the Danish national team. The Danish national team is not a buddy club. It’s about winning, and that’s been a problem for Kasper Hjulmand since Qatar.
“Kasper Hjulmand has absolutely no weight! This was a golden opportunity for Kasper Hjulmand to test some of the budding players and some of the bubbling talents we have. And then they just choose to take the old guard with them. Two completely irrelevant matches. Totally scandalous. It’s horrible, what’s going on. I doubt whether Kasper Hjulmand is the right man to take Denmark through the European Championship.”
The future looks uncertain for Eriksen in terms of potential destinations, but there is no reason that he couldn’t continue playing for the national team, even if a decision was made to drop to league of a lower standard.
Denmark would be silly not to make use of Eriksen’s experience while he remains willing to represent his country.
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