Delaney: Denmark’s expectations are really high

• Exclusive talk with Denmark’s Thomas Delaney




• He shares his memories of France 1998




• Denmark accommodate France, Australia and Peru in Russia

On 12 Jun 1998, Denmark’s golden era – including Peter Schmeichel and a Laudrup brothers Michael and Brian – faced Saudi Arabia in a organisation theatre of a FIFA World Cupâ„¢ in France. The Scandinavians won a compare 1-0 in front of a throng of 38,100 spectators during the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens.

Among those in a track that day was seven-year-old Thomas Delaney, who watched his idols adult tighten for a initial time alongside his father and grandparents. Fast-forward 20 years and Delaney is now following in a footsteps of his heroes, and is fervent to make an impact during Russia 2018 in a few months.

“Back afterwards we apparently never suspicion that I’d play in a World Cup one day,” a 26-year-old told FIFA.com with a smile. “I collected a World Cup stickers and also got an central compare ball. It was amazing. It’s one of my best memories – a atmosphere around a track and a city. It’s not usually a games that make a World Cup so special; it’s especially a atmosphere in a whole country. As a actor we don’t collect adult on many of that though.”

Delaney fact file

• Four-time Danish champion, three-time Danish Cup winner
• 21 general caps
• Scored all 4 general goals to date in Sep 2017: a hat-trick in a 4-1 win over Armenia and one in a 4-0 feat over Poland

Denmark have been drawn opposite France, Australia and Peru in Group C during a arriving finals. They are aiming to strech a final 16 during a unequivocally least, though ideally a Danes wish to get to a quarter-finals. That would equal their best finish of their 4 contest appearances to date, achieved during France 1998.

“We’re unequivocally confident about a organisation stage,” Delaney said. “If you’re not in pot 1 afterwards you’re fundamentally going to face a world-class team. Second place in a organisation has to be a aim. But apparently we’ve also got a possibility opposite France. we don’t only wish to play 3 games and afterwards have to container my bags and go home. We’re going there with a feet resolutely on a belligerent since we’re a tiny country, though expectations are apparently high.”

9⃣ games dominant in 2017
9⃣ goals from @ChrisEriksen8
1⃣ #WorldCup berth secured
It has been a year to remember for a #FIFARanking‘s biggest movers: Denmark
https://t.co/yqzxrONhNF pic.twitter.com/K33N5O1RoN

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 28, 2017

The midfielder had spent his whole football career in a Danish collateral before withdrawal Copenhagen to join Bundesliga side Werder Bremen in Jan 2017. It was a pierce that meant he substituted competing for championships and titles for battling for any indicate and avoiding relegation.

“It was a right preference though it has been harder than we expected,” Delaney said. “I’ve softened and developed. In Copenhagen we wanted to win any game. we had to change my genius since in Bremen we have to be confident with a indicate sometimes, or cope with losing a series of games in a quarrel now and then.

“I’d only determined myself in a inhabitant organisation shortly before we sealed for Werder,” Delaney continued. “We’ve got a lot of good midfielders in a inhabitant organisation and they all play in a best leagues in Europe. we wanted to settle myself abroad since that’s something a inhabitant organisation coaches are aware of.”

He admits that this summer’s World Cup is a consistent participation in a behind of his mind, “but we need to put that to one side since anything can still happen”. For now, he is focusing on avoiding relegation with Bremen before branch his courtesy to Russia 2018.

Delaney’s girlfriend, mom and several friends will transport with him to a contest – and maybe there will also be another immature child whose eyes will light adult as he recalls his initial World Cup knowledge in 20 years’ time.

Delaney on…
His general debut
“I done my entrance as a left-back. It was my initial time personification in that position. At a time things weren’t going so good for us during Copenhagen. It wasn’t an easy duration though it was still a good feeling.”

Superstar Christian Eriksen

“He’s a good footballer, not your standard No10. He runs a good understanding and covers a lot of belligerent both in conflict and defence. He can also play as a striker. A lot of people don’t see that. He’s got an superb right feet and gives a lot of assists.”

The 5-1 win in a World Cup play-off lapse leg opposite Republic of Ireland in Dublin
“It was a rollercoaster ride. We went 1-0 down though afterwards came behind a approach we did. It was a bizarre feeling after around a 60th notation since we knew that zero could unequivocally go wrong anymore. We looked during any other and knew that a World Cup sheet was ours.”

Article source: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2018/m=1/news=delaney-denmark-s-expectations-are-very-high-2926834.html