By Liz Panucci // @PanucciLiz
What’s the opposite of unruly fans? Supporters of team Denmark! I can, personally, account for this as my heritage hails from this Scandinavian country. We don’t get too excited about anything and go through life in a placid sort of way enjoying food and drink with others.
Recently, us reporters decided that since neither the US Men’s National Team or the Canadian team qualified for the World Cup 2018 in Russia, we would write about other teams. Many chose teams via their heritage, some because of their MLS connection and others just because they like the country.
The World Cup starts June 14 with Denmark’s first match on June 16. There are 32 countries divided into 8 groups, A-H. Denmark is in Group C along with Peru, Australia and France. Denmark missed the last World Cup but have high hopes to come out on top of this group, even against heavyweight Team France.
DENMARK: 23-man squad — Nicklas Bendtner has been left out of Denmark’s 23-man World Cup squad due to a groin injury that he sustained playing for his club side.
Goalkeepers: Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City), Frederik Ronnow (Brondby IF), Jonas Lossl (Huddersfield Town)
Defenders: Henrik Dalsgaard (Brentford), Simon Kjaer (Sevilla), Jens Stryger Larsen (Udinese), Mathias Jorgensen (Huddersfield Town), Jannik Vestergaard (Borussia Monchengladbach), Andreas Christensen (Chelsea), Jonas Knudsen (Ipswich Town)
Midfielders: William Kvist (FC Kobenhavn), Thomas Delaney (Werder Bremen), Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur), Lukas Lerager (Bordeaux), Michael Krohn-Dehli (Deportivo), Lasse Schone (Ajax), Pione Sisto (Celta Vigo)
Forwards: Nicolai Jørgensen (Feyenoord), Yussuf Poulsen (RB Leipzig), Viktor Fischer (FC Kobenhavn), Kasper Dolberg (Ajax), Andreas Cornelius (Atalanta), Martin Braithwaite (Bordeaux)
According to the FIFA World Rankings, Denmark is currently tied with England for 12th going into the tournament. They have moved up 7 spots in the past 9 months. If the team can continue to gel, they can ride this wave of momentum and kickoff Moscow on a winning note.
Featured image: mlsfemale
Follow and chat with me on twitter // @PanucciLiz
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