Who has Kasper Hjulmand picked as Denmark prepare for 2022 World Cup?
Denmark will be appearing at the World Cup for the sixth time in their history.
They made their debut in the 1986 edition held in Mexico and remarkably progressed to the knockouts, winning all three group-stage games, including a 2-0 victory over the mighty West Germans.
However, their best performance came in the 1998 edition, when they reached the quarter-finals. In the last eight, they were edged out by Brazil following a hotly contested fixture that ended 3-2.
Can the Danes do even better in Qatar?
They have been drawn in Group D along with defending champions France, Australia, and Tunisia.
Apart from the fixture against France, Denmark will be the favourites against the other two teams and will fancy their chances of reaching the knockouts.
Let's take a look at the 26 players that Kasper Hjulmand has chosen to represent the country in Qatar, with five more set to be added before the deadline.
ALSO READ:World Cup 2022 Group D: Fixtures, results, standings, squads & full details
Getty ImagesGOALKEEPERS
Kasper Schmeichel is the first-choice keeper for Hjulmand. The veteran shot-stopper is one of the captains of the national team and was once more superb for Denmark in the World Cup qualifiers and the Nations League.
Oliver Christensen of Hertha BSC and Frederik Ronnow of Union Berlin have been chosen as the backup keepers.
Frederik Ronno
Name
Club
Kasper Schmeichel
Nice
Oliver Christensen
Hertha BSC
Frederick Ronnow
Union Berlin
AdvertisementGetty ImagesDEFENDERS
Hjulmand has tried a variety of defensive formations depending on the opponent and the players at hand. In September, in the Nations League against France, he opted for a straightforward back four, whereas against Croatia he shifted to a back-five.
Crystal Palace's Joachim Andersen and Barcelona's Andreas Christensen have been used mostly at the heart of defence along with veteran Simon Kjaer, while 23-year-old Victor Nelsson represents another solid centre-back option.
Rasmus Kristensen has landed the main right-back berth, while Joakim Maehle of Atalanta is the trusted option at left-back.
Jens Larsen is another dependable full-back who adds experience to the squad along with Brondby's Daniel Wass.
Name
Club
Joachim Andersen
Crystal Palace
Victor Nelsson
Galatasaray
Simon Kjaer
AC Milan
Joakim Maehle
Atalanta
Andreas Christensen
Barcelona
Rasmus Kristensen
Leeds United
Jens Larsen
Trabzonspor
Daniel Wass
Brondby
Alexander Bah
Benfica
Getty ImagesMIDFIELDERS
Christian Eriksen's has made Denmark's final squad to complete his remarkable recovery since suffering cardiac arrest on the pitch at Euro 2020.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is the other contender at the centre of the park, while Jesper Lindstrom has also got the nod after impressing with Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.
Thomas Delaney has been ruled out of the World Cup that he sustained against Tunisia in their campaign opener.
Name
Club
Jesper Lindstrom
Eintracht Frankfurt
Mathias Jensen
Brentford
Christian Eriksen
Manchester United
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
Tottenham
Christian Norgaard
Brentford
Getty ImagesATTACKERS
Former Barcelona striker Martin Braithwaite, who is now on the books at Espanyol, is set to lead the line alongside Kasper Dolberg of Sevilla.
Mikkel Damsgaard and Andreas Olsen will be deployed on the flanks, while Andreas Cornelius is a veteran of the game whose experience will be invaluable at a massive tournament like the World Cup.
RB Leipzig's Yussuf Poulsen has been named in the final squad.
Name
Club
Martin Braithwaite
Denmark
Andreas Skov Olsen
Club Brugge
Kasper Dolberg
Sevilla
Mikkel Damsgaard
Brentford
Andreas Cornelius
Copenhagen
Jonas Wind
VFL Wolfsburg
Jesper Lindstrom
Eintracht Frankfurt
Yussuf Yurary Poulssen
RB Leipzig