Leeds United right-back Rasmus Kristensen has been named as part of Kasper Hjulmand’s World Cup squad for the competition due to begin in Qatar this month.
Kristensen has made 11 appearances for the Whites so far this season, including in recent dramatic victories over Liverpool and Bournemouth.
He takes his place alongside fellow Premier League defender Joachim Andersen (Crystal Palace), as well as other noteworthy defensive figures such as Simon Kjaer (AC Milan) and Andreas Christensen (Barcelona).
Kristensen has so far amassed 10 caps for his national side, playing every game of their 2022 UEFA Nations League group games in the process. The most impressive result from this set of matches was a 2-0 win over France in September in which Kristensen started, assisting his team in nullifying an attack comprised of Kylian Mbappe, Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann.
This fixture is due to be repeated during the World Cup group stages, as Denmark find themselves in the same group as France, as well as Australia and Tunisia.
Denmark’s first World Cup game comes against Tunisia on Tuesday 22nd November at 1pm.
Whilst Kristensen has looked shaky defensively at times for Leeds this season, and did so again against Bournemouth last weekend leading to two goals, he certainly offers something different offensively. As a full-back who loves marauding down the wing Kristensen always has the potential to contribute in the form of an assist or two, as evidenced at Anfield as he whipped in a sublime cross which would have led to a goal had Aaronson not hit the woodwork.
Perhaps playing a different style will also benefit Kristensen more defensively, as when he does find himself exposed at the back it is usually a by-product of Marsch’s high-press, high-risk approach to the game. Denmark are not renowned for employing such a philosophy, so Kristensen should not find himself caught out as easily as he has been this season for the Whites.
Denmark Group Stage Fixtures:
Tue 22nd November: Denmark vs Tunisia (1pm)
Sat 26th November: France vs Denmark (4pm)
Wed 30th November: Australia vs Denmark (3pm)
Full Denmark Squad:
Kasper Schmeichel (Nice), Oliver Christensen (Hertha Berlin), Simon Kjaer (AC Milan), Joachim Andersen (Crystal Palace), Joakim Maehle (Atalanta BC), Andreas Christensen (Barcelona), Rasmus Kristensen (Leeds United), Jens Stryger Larsen (Trabzonspor), Victor Nelsson (Galatasaray), Daniel Wass (Brondby), Thomas Delaney (Sevilla), Mathias Jensen (Brentford), Christian Eriksen (Manchester United), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Tottenham Hotspur), Andreas Skov Olsen (Club Bruges), Jesper Lindstrom (Eintracht Frankfurt), Andreas Cornelius (Copenhagen), Martin Braithwaite (Espanyol), Kasper Dolberg (Sevilla), Mikkel Damsgaard (Brentford), Jonas Wind (Wolfsburg)
