DBasia.news – There is something different in the last 16 of the 2020 European Cup between Denmark and Wales at the Amsterdam Arena, Saturday (26/06). Yussuf Poulsen, who usually adorns the starting lineup on the Danish front line, was not played by Kasper Hjulmand.
Poulsen was injured and his position on Hjulmand’s 3-4-3 tactic was replaced by young striker Kasper Dolberg, alongside Martin Braithwaite and Mikkel Damsgaard. Denmark has started the game well.
With full confidence Rob Page, Wales coach before the game said his team had the best counter-attack in Europe. From his words, it can be concluded that Wales will defend and rely on counter attacks.
Allowing Denmark to dominate possession was risky and it paid dearly for Wales with a crushing 0-4 defeat. Without the Welsh fans at the Amsterdam Arena, it is increasingly difficult for Gareth Bale et al to rise.
Dolberg scored twice in the 27th and 48th minutes, then the next two goals from Joakim Maehle (88′) and Martin Braithwaite (90+4′). Wales were down to 10 men when substitute Harry Wilson received a red card in the 90th minute.
Danish ‘dynamite’ blast destroys the Welsh defence. No wonder Denmark was nicknamed the Danish Dynamite thanks to their success in winning the 1992 European Cup, referring to their aggressive, pressing, and energetic game.
Dolberg’s name immediately shot after the game ended. The 23-year-old received the Man of the Match award and well deserved it.
“I have to say his (Dolberg) performance was great. I think we have a star striker in Kasper. He doesn’t play much but I see him training fit, I think it shows that he is ready to climax,” said Hjulmand praising Dolberg
“We have all been waiting for a striker who shows that he can play as a central striker. Dolberg takes advantage of opportunities well,” added former Denmark striker Jan Molby.
“His two goals are very much like him – no need to fight in the box, he just gets in the right area and finishes chances.”
According to UEFA records, Dolberg became the second Danish player to score twice in the knockout stages of the European Cup, after Henrik Larsen in the 1992 European Cup semi-final against the Netherlands. The stellar performance catapulted Dolberg’s name.
Ajax Amsterdam Academy Products
Ajax Amsterdam Academy is well-known throughout the world as a source of talented talent in Europe. Many academy alumni or names from Denmark were also developed there.
Call it like Christian Eriksen, Lasse Schone, Viktor Fischer, Nicolai Boilesen, and Dolberg one of them. No wonder there is a common thread that connects Ajax with Danish players.
“The Danish players have almost the same mentality as the Dutch. You can count on the fact that they are team players and also have very good technical ability when they are young,” said Dolberg’s agent and former Denmark international Jens Steffensen to the Guardian.
“But because domestic competition is not as strong as other countries, you need to find the right place to step up to the next level.”
Dolberg was brought to the Ajax academy in 2015 after previously being at the GFG Voel and Silkeborg IF academy. Ajax sporting director Marc Overmars was impressed by Dolberg’s trial and immediately wanted to sign him.
Since then Dolberg’s development has increased at Ajax. The player who was born in Silkeborg, October 6, 1997 grew up in the right environment: absorbing Dutch total football knowledge, trained by the legendary Dennis Bergkamp, and later developed by Peter Bosz by Erik ten Hag.
“When Kasper came to Ajax, he was a left winger. But Marc Overmars told us he thought he could be a fantastic No. 9. He brought Bergkamp and Kasper together and we have seen the results since then,” added Steffensen.
Hunted by Europe’s Top Clubs
When Dolberg scored twice against Wales the stage was set up especially for him. Amsterdam ArenA is no stranger to him because he played for three years at Ajax (2016-2019).
Dolberg scored 33 goals in 78 appearances for Ajax in the Eredivisie. Dolberg has also played with Indonesian striker who now plays for Persib Bandung, Ezra Walian at Ajax U-19 under Gery Vink – the two separated in 2017.
Manchester City are reportedly monitoring Dolberg as well as other European clubs when Dolberg shows developments at Ajax.
“We have interest from all over Europe, especially from England. All the top clubs in England have been in touch – and also in Spain. Everything depends on Ajax,” Steffensen added in 2017.
“He has a contract with them until 2021 but I don’t know what they want to do. They haven’t given me any indication of how much it will cost to buy him.”
In the end the player who had been paired with Marco van Basten, the Dutch football legend chose to join Patrick Vieira’s team in 2019: OGC Nice for 20 million euros.
Dolberg slowly built his career in Europe and did not rush to a big club at a young age, just like Steffensen’s image of his client’s humbleness.
“He can appear indifferent or even cold, but that can be deceiving. When he is on the pitch and facing competition, he will think, deep down, that he will get the better of the opponent,” explained Steffensen.
“Kasper is a very quiet person and his feet are always one meter on the ground (humble). It’s very important to have a connection to the earth (stay humble).”
Dolberg’s mother Kirsten Dolberg is a former professional handball in Denmark, his father Flemming Rasmussen once saw his son like an incarnation of Van Basten.
“I see a lot in common with Marco van Basten,” said Rasmusen as he watched his son break the 1988 European Championship-winning hat-trick by four minutes.
“If he carries on that is of course very good. They have the same size, the same pace, and both have good kicks.”
Nobody knows how far the Danish cinderella story will go in Euro 2020. But the public has started comparing the current squad with the 1992 team and they are starting to dream.
With additional enthusiasm and motivation for Christian Eriksen’s teammate who had collapsed due to a heart attack, Kasper Dolberg et al will be looking forward to their actions at Euro 2020.