Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand has released his squad list for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and Christian Eriksen has been confirmed for the trip to Qatar.
After the unfortunate incident at the 2020 European Championship that saw Eriksen out of commission for the better part of six months, the talismanic Dane has slowly, but surely, made his way back into the discussions.
Strong outings for Brentford in the second half of the 2021/22 season and a great start in the heart of Manchester United's midfield have shown that Eriksen has shaken off the rust of not playing for six months.
Hjulmand also tested him for the UEFA Nations League in the international breaks that occured between his return to football and his announcement of the Qatar squad, and Eriksen did not disappoint. However, his inclusion was still considered not final, possibly because of the incidents of the last tournament.
But on Monday, the Denmark national team coach gave the country what they wanted by including the former Tottenham Hotspur man in his final 26-man squad for Denmark's sixth appearance at the global showpiece.
He also bolstered his squad's chances as Eriksen is not only fully recovered from his condition, but is one of Denmark's best players and strengthens the squad a whole lot when he is part of the team.
Hjulmand has named 21 of his final 26 and plans to reveal the remaining five will be delivered by November 13, the date set as the deadline by FIFA for squad lists submission.
Speaking on the list and the deficit, Hjulmand said: “Many things can happen. It’s unsolvable, but it’s the right way to do it — there are two games left for many of our players, and that can easily change things.
“There are 10 or 12 players still in contention for the last five spots,” Hjulmand added, giving room for the addition of a few players like Christian Norgaard and Yussuf Poulsen, who weren’t included in the 21-man list.
Of the 21 names released, Hertha Berlin goalkeeper Oliver Christensen, Leeds United defender Rasmus Kristensen and Eintracht Frankfurt forward Jesper Lindstrom are the only players that have not played at a major tournament for Denmark before.
The 21 names in the list is shown below.
Goalkeepers: Kasper Schmeichel (Nice), Oliver Christensen (Hertha Berlin).
Defenders: Simon Kjaer (AC Milan), Joachim Andersen (Crystal Palace), Joakim Maehle (Atalanta), Andreas Christensen (Barcelona), Rasmus Kristensen (Leeds United), Jens Stryger Larsen (Trabzonspor), Victor Nelsson (Galatasaray), Daniel Wass (Brondby).
Midfielders: Thomas Delaney (Sevilla), Mathias Jensen (Brentford), Christian Eriksen (Man. United), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Tottenham).
Forwards: Andreas Skov Olsen (Club Bruges), Jesper Lindstrom (Eintracht Frankfurt), Andreas Cornelius (Copenhagen), Martin Braithwaite (Espanyol), Kasper Dolberg (Sevilla), Mikkel Damsgaard (Brentford), Jonas Wind (VfL Wolfsburg).
