EM semi-finalists Denmark started the World Cup with a disappointment. The “away game” against Tunisia ended goalless.
The World Cup secret tip Denmark has not yet fulfilled the high expectations in its first tournament match. Against the loudly supported outsiders Tunisia, the European Championship semi-finalists struggled to a 0:0 on Tuesday at the World Cup in Qatar. Only in the second half did the Danes create any scoring chances at all. Their performance in Al-Rajjan nevertheless remained thin. In injury time, a possible penalty kick for Denmark was reviewed but not given.
Denmark’s star Christian Eriksen made his first appearance at a major tournament 17 months after collapsing at Euro 2021. The Tunisians, however, took no notice of this emotional moment for him. The midfielder Aissa Laidouni knocked the Manchester United playmaker over on the touchline in the first minute and celebrated with a jubilant gesture towards the crowd.
There were tens of thousands of Tunisian fans – far more than half of the 42,925 spectators in the Education City Stadium were loudly supporting the North Africans. Teams from the Arab world like Tunisia or Morocco have a big advantage at this World Cup. Their supporters flew to Qatar from their home countries or already live there as guest workers.
And this massive home game atmosphere intimidated the Danes noticeably, although their goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel had said just the day before: “We know this kind of thing. It’s not a problem for us. “
In fact, however, the clearly favoured Danes preferred to play the safety pass when a little more risk would have opened up much bigger spaces. And they kept getting stuck in the attacking third because their game lacked any tempo. Coach Kasper Hjulmand responded to this sluggish display by changing tactics twice in the first 65 minutes alone.
Tunisia, at least for one half, were clearly more gripping, more determined – and more dangerous. A goal by centre-forward Issam Jebali was disallowed for offside in the 23rd minute. 20 minutes later, the attacker of the Danish club Odense BK failed to score freely against goalkeeper Schmeichel (43rd).
The Danes became more pressured in the second half and did not make it so easy for their opponents to defend. But a goal by Andreas Skov Olsen in the 55th minute was disallowed for offside. In addition, Eriksen failed with a long-range shot against Tunisia’s goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen (69th). And Andreas Cornelius, who had been substituted shortly before, only headed against the post from close range (70th).
And so this World Cup began with a sporting disappointment for the Danes. Captain Simon Kjaer, like all his European colleagues, did not wear a captain’s armband, which is supposed to promote tolerance and diversity. Even the training shirts with the inscription “Human Rights for All” had been forbidden to them by FIFA before they travelled to Qatar. So the only expression of protest was an almost monochrome jersey on which the logos of the federation and the manufacturer are barely visible. The Danish supplier wants to be “invisible” at this World Cup.