Christian Eriksen under fire

Christian Eriksen came under fire after Denmarks late defeat to Portugal. Boss Morten Olsen blames the Spurs star for not doing enough for the Danish side.

Eriksen has impressed everyone since leaving Ajax Amsterdam for Tottenham Hotspur and the English capital. In Holland, he was one of the best players, and he has managed to keep the same standard in England. However, it seems that Eriksen leaves behind the great form in his club when he joins Denmark for international duty.

Denmark boss Olsen slammed Eriksen for Denmarks late defeat to Portugal by saying:

"After so many matches he could pick up the ball and help to control the game. He has not been able to.

“Therefore, we blame him. He must stand up to the criticism, and he does too.”

And Morten Olsen is right. Christian Eriksen has not impressed for the Denmark team for a long time. The Danish fans have only seen five goals in 48 matches from Eriksen; not impressing for an attack-minded player. However, Olsen has used Eriksen on both wings as well, and when it comes to it, the talent is best as an attacking midfield.

Furthermore, Eriksen is not allowed the same freedom on the Denmark side as he is in Spurs where he has a more free role. After playing the same 4-2-3-1 formation for a decade, Olsen changed it to a 4-4-2 for the Portugal match. None the less did it help; Eriksen was still locked and not given the freedom he needs to perform as he does for his club in England.

But is Olsen right to blame Eriksen for his poor display? Partly. As Olsen said on today's press conference:

“It is quite something when you have to criticize a player like Christian Eriksen. It should not take place.

“If it was a player at a lower level, one could say that he had no class. But with Christian Eriksen do not make the mistake. I must be tough and say to him. And he knows it well.”

But, Olsen needs to realise that Eriksen has to get a more free role if he is to perform at the same level as in Tottenham. Until then, the Danish fans will only see half of what the Spurs star is capable of.

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Ajax Amsterdam and all the Danes

By Harbo on 08:18

Throughout history, Danish footballers have had their time in the Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam. Players as Jan Mølby, Frank Arnesen, Jesper Grønkjær and both Laudrup brothers have been in the club. This season the squad contains six Danes, three of them are the hopes of the future for Denmark.

Christian Poulsen

Age: 32 (28.2.1980)

Position: Central midfield

Former clubs: FC Copenhagen, Schalke 04, Sevilla, Juventus, Liverpool, Evian.

Value: £2.000.000

Most Danish football fans rubbed their eyes a little in disbelief when Poulsen was announced in Ajax. The former Danish national captain is seen as an "over-the-hill" player. However, Poulsen has had an impressive career and is one of the only players in the world to have played in all of the five biggest European leagues. There is no doubt, that Poulsen in brought to Ajax this season, to give some routine to a young team.

Lasse Schöne

Age: 26 (27.5.1986)

Position: Central midfield

Former clubs: Lyngby BK, SC Heerenveen, De Graafschap, NEC Nijmegen

Value: £3.500.000

Lasse Schöne joined Ducth football in an early age and was unkown to many Danish football fans. However, the Dane has a great reputation in Holland, where he has been a profile in both De Graafschap and NEC Nijmegen. Last season was probably his best, which opened the door for a transfer to Ajax. The midfielder with the nickname Lassie has so far played thirteen matches and scored 2 goals for the Danish national team.

Christian Eriksen

Age: 20 (14.2.1992)

Position: Central/Attacking midfield

Former clubs: Odensen Boldklub

Value: 14.000.000£

Christian Eriksen in not only a hot name in Ajax, but also in the rest of Europe. Throughout the summer, he has been linked with both Manchester clubs and Arsenal. However, the Danish wonderkid is still in Ajax, where he has been urged to stay by former Danish national stars. Eriksen is a profile on the attacking midfield for his team and has shown some first class football the last couple of seasons. Unfortunately, the Danish national team has not seen the same magic yet.

Nicolai Boilesen

Age: 20 (16.2.1992)

Position: Left back

Former clubs: Brøndby IF

Value: 1.100.000£

Boilesen had his breakthrough in Ajax in 2011, where he played several important matches. He could have had his breakthrough for the Danish national team, if it wasn't for his injuries. However, the young back has several years in front of him and will play an important role both in Ajax and for Denmark. In his first match for Ajax, Boilesen made an assist and was nominated as "Man of the Match".

Viktor Fischer

Age: 18 (9.6.1994)

Position: Attacking wing/Striker

Former clubs: FC Midtjylland

Value: 450.000£

Fischer is on every Danes lips at the moment. The young striker is to have his breakthrough in Ajax, after his amazing season last year. Here, he was one of the best players in the youth Champions League, Nextgen Series. In this seasons NextGen Serie, Fischer scored a hattrick last week. The young striker has been linked with Manchester United and Chelsea, but will probably stay in Ajax, where he got his debut this season in the Super Cup against PSV Eindhoven.

Lucas Andersen

Age: 18 (13.10.1994)

Position: Attacking midfield

Former clubs: Aalborg BK

Value: £650.000

Lucas Andersen is the newest Danish name in Ajax. The former Aalborg BK player joined the Dutch club on the last day of the transfer window and has already gotten his debut on the Ajax youth team. Here, he scored two goals last night. Lucas Andersen is one of the most talented players Aalborg has ever had, and he has already been a part of the Danish national league team, as well as a part of the Danish U21 national team.

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Keep an eye on: Andreas Retz Laudrup

By Harbo on 03:17

Keep an eye on: Andreas Retz Laudrup

Age: 21 (10-11-1990)

Position: Striker - Left Wing

Club: FCN (FC Nordsjælland),

Danish Superliga

Debut: 23-04-2009

against Brøndby If,

Danish Superliga

International Caps: Denmark U21:

6 Match(es)

2 Goal(s)

Denmark U20:

1 Match(es)

0 Goal(s)

Denmark U19: 2 Match(es)

0 Goal(s)

Denmark U18: 3 Match(es)

0 Goal(s)

Denmark U17: 5 Match(es)

0 Goal(s)

Denmark U16: 2 Match(es)

0 Goal(s)

Value: £450.000 (transfermarkt.co.uk)

Andreas Laudrup had his youth career in Boldklubben Søllerød-Vedbæk before joining Lyngby BK in the 2006/07 season. Laudrup was invited on a trial to the Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam twice in his first year in Lyngby, and it was reported that Barcelona and Real Madrid also were interested in a tryout for the young player.

When Andreas Laudrup’s father, the Danish football legend, Michael Laudrup was hired as manager for the Spanish La Liga team Gestafe, Andreas joined Real Madrid. As Andreas Laudrups father is a well known name in Spanish football, the player decided to use his mother’s maiden name, Retz, to avoid attention around his personality. Danish U21 national coach Morten Wieghorst why the player chose to use another name:

“As soon as the name Laudrup is being mentioned, you think of especially Michael and Brian. People, conscious or unconscious, compare Andreas with his father and uncle. It is a heavy burden for a young player, but Andreas is aware of how it is and has become much stronger as well as a lot better in tackling this than he was before”.

The former FCN-coach also said that Andreas Laudrup was “beginning to make a name of himself”, and that it was “the best thing he could do, as people at some point will associate the name with him and not his father and uncle”.

During his time in Real Madrid’s youth department, the Spanish club was very eager to get him on a full time contract. Real Madrid’s youth coach, Juvenil A Alejandro Menéndez Garcia, said to the Danish newspaper B.T:

“What I have seen from Andreas Laudrup is very positive. He has the right ingredients to become a star player”.

When Michael Laudrup signed a contract as manager for Russian Spartak Moscow, the club tried to sign Andreas, as well. However, they younger Laudrup rejected and instead transferred back to Lyngby on a free contract, to play as an amateur.

Three months after his transfer to Lyngby, the young attacker, was about to sign with a new Dutch club Heerenveen, according to the Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet. Asked if Laudrup is too good to Danish football, Morten Wieghorst said:

“Andreas is still a young player, and he is in a good club [FC Nordsjælland] at the moment, with a great environment, where they are good at developing young players. He has already of first team experience in the Danish Superliga, and he needs more of it before he can take the next step”.

In January 2009, Laudrup transferred to his current club FCN where he signed a contract for 3 years. He had his debut against Brøndby IF 3 months after he joined the club. Great performances for his club resulted in a place in the Danish U21 squad, where he had his debut in the 1-0 victory against Mexico. Morten Wieghorst, who at that time was Laudrup’s manager in Nordsjælland here, gives his view on the players’ strengths and weaknesses:

“He has his best forces in the offensive play. When he has players around him whom he can play combination plays with, then he is really dangerous for the opponent because he has quick feet and at the same time he knows where his teammates are. What he is working a lot with and what he is putting in his play is to be more decisive in the matches and thereby bringing himself or his fellow player in a position to finish at goal”.

Andreas Laudrup signed a new contract with FCN last year, keeping him in the club for at least 2014. 

Andreas Laudrup scores a goal for Lyngby (Youth match)

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Keep an eye on: Patrick Olsen

By Harbo on 10:13

Keep an eye on: Patrick Olsen

Name: Patrick Olsen

               Age: 17 (23-04-1994)
          Position: Center Midfield
              Club: Brøndby IF,
                    Danish Superliga
    Official debut: Still to come
International caps: Denmark U19: 6 match(es)
   0 goal(s)
Denmark U18: 2 match(es)
   0 goal(s)
Denmark U17: 23 match(es)
   0 goal(s)
Denmark U16: 6 match(es)
   1 goal(s)
             Value: Unknown

The young Brøndby IF midfielder Patrick Olsen is still waiting for his break through in the Danish Superliga, however, his talent has been discovered by other clubs from abroad. The Italian Serie B-club Atalanta had Olsen, then aged 16, on a trial in 2010.

"He is a fantastic technical and tactical player. He is very good at reading the game and what I like in particular is his ability to keep calm when he is under pressure."

- Per Andersen, Danish U18 & U19 national coach

Patrick Olsen scored his only goal for the Danish U16 national team in his debut against Ireland in 2009. The year after he was one of the players to bring Denmark U17 to the 2011 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship Qualifications Elite Round. The Brøndby player had not success with the national team but also with the club as they won bronze in the national league.

The Danish U17 national team made it to the 2011 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship which Patrick Olsen was not only selected for; He also played him self on the UEFA All Star team:

"Brøndby IF prospect Olsen played an understated yet pivotal role for Denmark, always showing great calmness on the ball alongside Christian Nørgaard." - UEFA.com

The strong midfielder was also selected for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 2011 where the dutch club Ajax Amsterdam was scouting him.

After only 2 caps for the U18 national team, Patrick Olsen, was promoted to the U19 team aged 17. Per Andersen said about the promotion:

"Patrick is from 1994 and plays on the national team for players from 1993. He has been promoted a year before schedules which means that right now he is competing with a few other midfielders. He is a player who is a part of the team to gather some experience but also because he has a great talent."

Olsen have also been a part of the Brøndby IF's reserves and is training with the Superliga squad. A break through may be the next for him, and Per Andersen believes that the young player has the potential to play on a higher level.

"He has the potential to play in The Premier League. Mostly because he is a winner-type and a mental strong player. It is hard to say if he will make it, but the potential is there."

                                   - Per Andersen, Danish U18 & U19 national coach

Patrick Olsen shows some of his skills in an older video:

Special thanks to Per Andersen, DBU.

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