Kasper Hjulmand would have preferred to hit the Netherlands than the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals of the European Championship on Friday. The day after Denmark’s 0-4 victory over Wales, the Czechs made a stunt by eliminating national coach Frank de Boer’s team 0-2. The national coach finds it strange that football-loving Denmark is happy with the link to the Czech Republic, which was the lowest standing eighth finalist with a fortieth place in the world ranking.
“To everyone who loves the link with the Czech Republic: you should think again,” Hjulmand told Danish media on Sunday. “I would have loved to play against the Netherlands. Obviously they have some players that are better than the Czech Republic players. But I also think that the Czech Republic deserved to win. And they have also performed better in recent years.”
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Hjulmand refers to the 1-1 draw that the Czech Republic forced in a World Cup qualifier against Belgium in March. “It’s the first time we’ve met a team that can match our intensity. They are very good,” the national coach of Denmark warned. “We have won a lot of games thanks to our intensity in the pressure and in the transition. But in that area Denmark and the Czech Republic are evenly matched. We should not be surprised if the Czechs work just as hard for it with the same intensity as we do.”
Former football player Mads Junker, who played in the Netherlands for several years, had hoped in advance for the Czech Republic. “Quality wise, it is the best opponent for Denmark. We have a higher chance of continuing, but no more than five to ten percent. We could stop the Netherlands, I am convinced of that. In practice, however, the best level in the Czech Republic cannot match the best level in the Netherlands. It is also a challenge to be favorite now.” He gives his homeland a sixty percent chance to continue. “If I had to choose, I would have chosen the Czech Republic. Neither of them are opponents of an absolute top level.”
Czech Republic coach Jaroslav Silhavý thinks it will be a difficult job against Denmark. “It will be a lot more difficult than against the Netherlands. They have drawn strength from the terrible event with Christian Eriksen. But if we can beat the Netherlands, then we also have a chance against the Danes,” the trainer emphasized after the 0-2 win in Budapest.
Silhavy couldn’t believe his luck on Sunday. “We were certainly not the favourites, but we played as a real team. We can continue with this. We first progressed in a difficult group with England, Croatia and Scotland. That was quite an achievement. And now the Netherlands was favorite, but we will win. We knocked Georginio Wijnaldum out of the game and made other important players angry with them. We even got applause from the Dutch fans. That was very sporty.”
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