Denmark face England on Thursday for the primary time since a well-known semi-final at Euro 2020 – however Peter Schmeichel insists his countrymen can not go into the sport fascinated with revenge.
Again then, England got here from behind to defeat Denmark 2-1 within the semi-finals at Wembley, with Harry Kane bagging the winner on the rebound from a penalty, after Raheem Sterling had been felled.
Schmeichel nonetheless believes that spot-kick was harsh, and the Danish nationwide workforce have skilled a downturn since that second, ending backside of their group on the 2022 World Cup, dropping to Kazakhstan on the best way to qualification for Euro 2024, then solely drawing their opening recreation of the match towards Slovenia.
However the former European Championship winner says the present squad can not afford to consider revenge towards England, even when the nation’s media might create that form of narrative going into the sport in Frankfurt.
“For me, it’s a little bit, isn’t it, as a result of that was by no means a penalty!” the 60-year-old advised FFT.
“Nevertheless it’s what occurs in soccer, and it occurred for us at a extremely unhealthy time. We’ve had so many different points since then, by way of how the entire Qatar World Cup went and our qualification wasn’t nice to start with as effectively. It’s a special workforce.
“I’d be very unhappy if the phrase revenge is one thing that performs into the build-up of this recreation, not a lot from the media aspect as a result of that may occur simply, however extra from the supervisor and the workforce. It shouldn’t, it completely shouldn’t.
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“It’s what occurs, typically we’ve additionally had selections go our means the place you assume ‘Hmm, perhaps not’. It’s simple once they’re given to you, it’s a bit bit more durable when it’s towards you, however that’s the truth of soccer. So hopefully that phrase received’t function in our build-up to the sport.”
Schmeichel’s son Kasper was in objective for the semi-final at Euro 2020, and can be anticipated to function once more on Thursday.
The pair have 230 caps mixed for his or her nation – Peter acquired 129 throughout his profession, and is aware of full effectively that any recreation between Denmark and England will at all times be necessary.
“There’s little question, Denmark vs England is a giant recreation for Denmark, it’s at all times been a giant recreation,” he mentioned. “And there’s no beating across the bush, England vs Denmark is a giant recreation for England as effectively.
“It’s two groups with actually good attacking choices. England’s ahead gamers are unbelievable, underlined by the truth that James Maddison and Jack Grealish couldn’t make the squad. You’ve got an unbelievable number of completely different gamers, it’s a really spectacular entrance line.
“Nevertheless it’s a entrance line, and soccer is extra than simply the entrance line. With a participant like Harry Maguire not making the squad, I believed that was an issue, as a result of he’d performed in any respect the tournaments since 2018 and been an integral a part of the workforce.
“I haven’t acquired a clue why Harry Maguire has acquired the repute he’s acquired with followers, as a result of I feel he’s a unbelievable defender. I’d have beloved to have performed behind a participant like him.”
Schmeichel was talking after assembly up with former England goalkeeper David Seaman – as soon as membership rivals for Manchester United and Arsenal respectively – for a mini-series in affiliation with Frank’s RedHot Sauce.
“I noticed it was going to be with David and I used to be enthusiastic about it,” Schmeichel defined. “We talked so much about soccer, and we had a number of conventional English and Danish meals, making an attempt them out with Frank’s RedHot Sauce,” he defined. “It was humorous – we spent a day recording, and we had a number of enjoyable.”
The Bermondsey Bierkeller can be remodeled into Frank’s-Furt for a particular viewing occasion for the sport between England and Denmark on Thursday. Tickets can be found for £5, together with a two-pint stein and a ‘Frank’s-Furter’ scorching canine lined in Frank’s RedHot Sauce. To buy, go to bermondseybierkeller.co.uk/occasions/franks-redhot-sauce
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