1. Denmark are ideal Round of 16 opponents for Croatia. Looking at the brackets before the World Cup began, and knowing that Croatia’s group would play France, Denmark, Peru or Australia in the next round, if they qualified; avoiding France needed to be the priority. With the Vatreni going a perfect 3-0 in group stage and France topping theirs, that ensured Croatia would play the Group C runner-up: Denmark. The Danes are one of the softer Round of 16 opponents left in the tournament and Croatia has to be ecstatic with the draw after topping group play.
2. Denmark and Croatia had identical roads to qualify for the World Cup; and that road was ugly. The Danes won six matches, drew twice and lost twice in a group which consisted of Poland, Montenegro, Romania, Armenia and Kazakhstan. Denmark lost 3-2 to Poland in Warsaw and 1-0 to Montenegro in Copenhagen within the first three matches of qualifying. They got back on track quickly but still drew a mediocre Romania side twice to finish second in group, forcing a two-leg playoff against Ireland. The first match ended scoreless in Copenhagen with the return leg going 5-1 in Denmark’s favor from Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Ireland scored first but the Danes went off for five unanswered goals. Christian Eriksen scored a hat trick.
3. Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Christian Eriksen is Denmark’s Lionel Messi. Stop Eriksen and you stop Denmark. Eriksen scored eight of Denmark’s 20 goals in qualifying and added a hat trick to the Danes’ 5-1 win over Ireland to punch their ticket to the World Cup. Eriksen scored the game winner in four of Denmark’s six wins. Werder Bremen midfielder Thomas Delaney is Denmark’s second threat; scoring four goals in qualifying.
4. Denmark do not concede many goals. In 10 qualifying matches, the Danes only conceded eight times while posting four clean sheets. Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel sits between the pipes for Denmark and was responsible for tending net in Leicester’s dream Premier League trophy run in 2016. He is the son of legendary Danish goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel. Denmark only conceded one goal in World Cup group play, which was a penalty to Australia, but the scoreless group finale against France was a mere 90-minute technicality as both sides were fine with a draw. If Croatia can once again score first, expect the floodgates to open as the Danes chase an equalizer.
5. Denmark have not impressed at this World Cup by any means. In their opening match versus Peru, in which they defeated the South Americans 1-0, Peru’s Christian Cueva sent a 45th minute penalty kick into the 12th row and Denmark would score the lone goal midway through the second half for the win. In their second match, the Danes conceded another penalty kick, this time to Australia, in a match that would end 1-1. The Socceroos were one of the World Cup’s weakest teams. The group finale against France was a mere walkthrough. Both teams would progress with a draw and that’s exactly what happened: a scoreless draw. If Denmark would have elected to play for the win, they could have topped France in group play.
Prediction: Croatia beats Denmark 2-0.
[…] Denmark, just like Nigeria, do not score tons of goals: read about Denmark here. […]
You guys are giving Denmark too much respect. They suck.
The better team does not always win!
I hope our boys have learned their lesson. We were better than Turkey in 2008 and Mexico in 2014, yet they sent us home!
Denmark is an easy win. No need to worry.
Hello people it’s Denmark even they know its their last game of the WC we go on they go home. It’s Spain we should be cautious wirh we are the better team but Spain can pull un upset. 2018 is Croatia’s year.
Agreed Iggy. Anything can happen in 90 min. The Greeks beat France, the Czechs who were way better then and Portugal twice at home.
Also, after resting most of our starting 11 for the Iceland game what more rest does anyone need? Might as well already fly everyone home. Russia’s not known for it relaxing beaches.
Some real shitcunts in this thread, talking about resting everyone, Denmark’s shit and we’re gonna win easy.
I see just about every game as 50-50 from here. I’m trying not to get my expectations too high cos we’ve been here before (2008, 2016) and lost the next game unexpectedly. It could EASILY happen again.
Of course, we’re the better team but that doesn’t mean u win; as someone else said.. look at korea v germany
Resting players? What are you guys smoking? This is the last 16 of the world cup, not a fucking exhibition match. We play every game like it’s the final with the best 11 we have at our disposal. The moment we stop taking this seriously, is the moment we lose.
Does anyone believe that after beating Nigeria, and Argentina drawing with Iceland, that the game vs the Argies was “our easiest in the group” and that we had “nothing to lose”?
All the pressure was on the Argies.
We coulda lost the Iceland game and still topped the group.
No pressure on us.
Denmark is shit, they’re not on Croatia’s level, but the pressure is on us now to win when we’re expected to.
So, most of you are scared to admit it, but it’s not Denmark that scares you, it’s Croatia choking again.
So you can talk up Denmark all you want, but the fact is they’re shit and the only way Croatia lose this game is if they choke.
And if the Croatian NT chokes, they can go and get fucked.
smh. unbelievable guys. denmark are VERY good. don’t be such weirdos. we are the better team. but not as much as you think. DO NOT underestimate denmark….or any team for that matter
erikson is super dangerous. super super dangerous. they have other good players too. really solid, a bit of pace, clever good teamwork. positive attitude. they are very good. however, if our boys are on top of their game (and they must make sure they are) then denmark will find it tough to get anything going…
I believe we will win. but we will win only by a good performance
U Boj
Not a chance we rest players. Can’t take anything for granted. One bad game and you’re done. Best case is we open up a big lead and can rest Modric and a couple others for the final 20-30, but that’s pretty wishful thinking.
We gotta rest our players for next game. We will defintetly win even without Modrić Raketić and Mandzukić. Play the younger players so our boys can be ready for the big one against Spain.
Truth Troll playing his Xbox to derive “flip a coin” type predictions again.
No need to overanalyze things too much in this next game. Croatia is sight favorite. My models put them at 55 percent chance to win.
If i introduce a recency variable into the model it ups Croatias odds to about 63 percent
But anything in this range means pretty much anything can happen. And luck is likely to win the day
The way it’s going, I wouldn’t be surprised if Sweden is in the semis. Wales beat Belgium two years ago and Sweden is much better than Wales. Plus that’s two games away. Let’s worry about getting past Denmark first. No game is a gimme.
Well said ADS!
I don’t want to say much.
Other than I’m getting fuuuucked up on Sunday!!
Would we rather play England or Belgium in the semis?
My pretourney statements revolved around speed and pace. In the group stages we out ran, pressed, out worked, out tackled, closed passing lanes for opposing teams. This is why we dominated the group. Our skill and technique were the cherry on top…
We will always have skill. But without the above qualities we will not progress. We must continue our dominance physically and athletically. Let modric and Raketa do the playing making and the rest of our squad must battle, run, close down etc…. We do this and there is no need to fear any opponent.
9. I’ll be poking lots of smot and drinking too much rakija.
South Korea was a host and they went to the Semi Finals in 2002.Russia could go far in the tournament as well.
Should we go all out with best players for Denmark or should we rest some guys for.the Spain game?
We have the best path to the finals. Denmark Sucks and Spain in nothing either anymore.
Anthony G, exactly brate!
Lets beat Demark than talk shit please
… Portugal were shit too and we all know how that ended.
I agree. Remain respectful of your opponents at all times. Denmark will be a tough game, and they have some quality players like Kjaer and Eriksen.
I also think we shouldn’t overestimate our own team. We’re on a good run, have excellend quality and we can go very far, but don’t think of Denmark as a team we’d be shit not to beat. I see this as an Iceland, well organised, but of higher quality, and with some players that can hurt us. Also, think of the problems that the Iceland team have caused us in the past (both in the last game and during the qualification).
Be confident, yes, but cocky and disrespectful, no. I live in England and it’s insane how they think they’ve already won it after two games against lesser teams. England fans are jerks. Let’s not be like them.
Kasper is one of the best goalkeepers at the World Cup,Eriksen is very good as well and Kjaer is a good defender I wouldnt be surprised if this game goes to extra time if we dont score an early goal.We played Denmark at Euro 96 we scored all 3 goals in the second half. Maybe we might get to the Semi Finals because this is Croatias 1998 20 year anniversary.
We need to smart about Denmark they score early bunker…We are in deep water..one thing this world cup has taught us is there are no easy games.
Halilovic is apparently going to Milan.
Denmark is shit.
You guys stop saying Denmark is good because you fear Croatia shitting their pants as soon as an opportunity to become mental midgets presents it self.
Denmark is shit.
8. EVERYONE NEEDS TO CHILL AND STOP SAYING DENMARK IS NOT THAT GOOD….ANYONE CAN WIN LOOK WHAT KOREA DID TO GERMANY STOP BEING SO COCKY AND BE HUMBLE…LETS TAKE IT SLOW WE GOTTA PLAY WELL
7. Their wing backs are trash
6. Denmark sucks and we are going to beat their ass. Who’s next?