As of: 06/26/2021 8:21 p.m.
As a jewel of Ajax Amsterdam with an outstanding scorer rate, Kasper Dolberg’s path to a top European team seemed mapped out. But the striker stumbled until he had his finest hour as a substitute for Yussuf Poulsen at the EURO – and Denmark shot into the quarter-finals against Wales at his old place of work in the Amsterdam Arena.
At the age of 17, the Ajax Amsterdam scouts, known for their outstanding talent search, discovered Kasper Dolberg in the small Danish town of Silkeborg and guided them to the Ajax School. It was an instant success story.
Dolberg contributed 61 goals and assists in 119 games in the Eredivisie, was champion and cup winner with Ajax. When Dolberg was 20 or 21 years old, there were always rumors about high-profile interested parties: In addition to numerous clubs from England and Spain, Borussia Dortmund is said to have been watching him for a long time, but ultimately hesitated.
Record transfer for Nice
Because Dolberg was repeatedly thrown back from injuries. In addition, he was sometimes accompanied by a certain phlegm on the pitch that Leroy Sané’s German football fans are familiar with. Ultimately, after being taken over by an investor, OGC Nice secured the services of the Danish center forward for 20.5 million euros in 2019 – almost a bargain at the prices at the time, even if it was the record transfer in club history for Nice.
Nice wanted to go permanently to Europe with Dolberg, so it was said at the time, but this wish has not yet come true. The 20/21 season ended OGC as ninth in the table, Dolberg disappointed in 23 appearances with only six hits and two assists. Even his participation in the European Championship seemed endangered for a long time, but Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand finally gave him his confidence. Dolberg has now repaid that – in a double pack.
Only included as a replacement for Poulsen
Hjulmand had to be lucky in the last sixteen game against Wales. Only because regular striker Yussuf Poulsen was out due to a muscle injury, the tall blonde moved into the starting line-up with the hard shot – and delivered splendidly with the two goals for the 4-0 (1-0) final score.
Wales had actually started the game stronger, had a dangerous conclusion in the first quarter of an hour by Gareth Bale and pushed Denmark deep into their own half. Only a tactical change by Hjulmand turned the game over.
Christensen moves up to the sixth position
After 25 minutes, the coach of the Danes broke his three-point defense, from then on let a back four play and ordered Andreas Christensen into defensive midfield. With this, Hjulmand got the permanent outnumbered in the midfield center under control, Denmark had much more access to the action and was rewarded immediately.
After an attack on the left side, the Welsh did not move consistently out of cover, leaving the onrushing Dolberg so much space that he gave up looking for a pass and simply pulled himself off: With perfect shooting technique, he circled the ball into the right corner (27. Minute).
Preliminary decision by Dolberg shortly after the change
The back four with Christensen in front of that on the six had a very good defensive effect for the Danes: Bale and Aaron Ramsey almost never made deals, Kasper Schmeichel in goal had an extremely quiet afternoon for a knockout game at a EURO.
Shortly after the restart, Dolberg made the preliminary decision again. Martin Braithwaite had entered the ball from the right, the inaccurately played ball would have died in no man’s land, but Neco Williams decided to attempt a momentous clarification. The ball landed directly at Dolberg, who effortlessly made it 2-0.
Gareth Bale and Co.
After that there was no real rebellion from the Welsh, they almost seemed to despair of the tactical masterpiece of Hjulmand. Two minutes before the end, Joakim Maehle destroyed the last hopes of the Welsh with a brilliant individual performance to make it 3-0, who then lost Harry Wilson with a red card from the good German referee Daniel Siebert.
Braithwaite with the final point
In stoppage time, Braithwaite also scored, whose 4-0 after a minute-long VAR check due to an alleged offside position only found validity with a long delay.
The Danish EURO fairy tale continues
The unbelievable history of the Danes at this EURO continues, they are now playing their quarter-finals in Baku and facing the winner of the duel between the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. In the opening game against Finland they had their traumatic experience with the Christian Eriksen collapses to process, stood after two defeats before the end.
Then came the brilliant 4: 1 against Russia – and now the European champion from 1992 is living on his dream. It will be exciting to see what Hjulmand will do with double packer Dolberg when Poulsen gets fit again. But considering what the Danes have already shouldered at this tournament, that’s a luxury problem.
Source: sportschau.de