World Cup - Christian counting down to Peru test
Fri 15 June 2018, 15:38|
Tottenham Hotspur
Denmark take on Peru on Saturday and Christian Eriksen is itching to get his World Cup campaign underway.
Denmark have not appeared at a major finals since 2012 but that wait will come to an end when they face Peru in their opening Group C game in Saransk (5pm UK) – and the contest cannot come around soon enough for our midfield schemer.
“The build up to it is long,” said Christian, who has 22 goals in 78 matches for his country. “It’s the first game and after the end of the season you have a few weeks to go. It’s the most important game in the tournament to get a result but then we must keep going.”
That final line is of added significance to Denmark, who recorded a stunning 1-0 victory against a highly-fancied Netherlands side in their first group game at Euro 2012 but then failed to qualify thanks to back-to-back defeats against Portugal and Germany.
We’ve missed a couple of tournaments and didn’t want to miss another.
Christian started all three matches in that tournament but Denmark have not featured at any finals since. “We’ve missed a couple of tournaments and didn’t want to miss another,” said the 26-year-old. “It will be exciting and all of us are really looking forward to it.”
Christian was in sensational form in the qualifying campaign, scoring 11 times including a hat-trick in their decisive 5-1 play-off second-leg success away to the Republic of Ireland, but this game represents a different type of test against unfamiliar opposition.
“We’ve heard Peru play some very attacking, compact football and are physically very strong,” said Christian, who made two substitute appearances as an 18-year-old in his only other World Cup in 2010. “It’s something very impressive that they’ve come through their qualifying group in South America and a play-off.
“I’m sure they will be a very strong team to play against and very difficult for European teams. It will be a fun game and a good test for the first match.”
