Abu Dhabi: Nicklas Bendtner’s form is to blame for Denmark’s failure to qualify to Euro 2016, according to their former goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.
The 1992 champions lost 4-3 to Sweden in the play-offs after finishing third in their qualifying group behind Portugal and Albania.
Denmark join the likes of fellow former champions Greece (2004) and Holland (1988) in failing to qualify for this summer’s tournament in France.
Bendtner, 28, was released by German side Wolfsburg at the end of the season after scoring just nine goals in 47 appearances since joining the Bundesliga outfit from Arsenal in August 2014. He scored just two in 10 appearances for Denmark, both in 3-1 win over Serbia, during their qualifying campaign; bringing his overall total to 29 goals in 74 games for his country, where he remains Denmark’s seventh highest goal scorer of all time.
“The main difference is that they were missing a prolific striker,” the current Melbourne City shot-stopper told Gulf News on the sidelines of a City Football Schools training session at Zayed Sports City last week.
“They have a good team with some good players, but Bendtner has been struggling at club level with a lack of form and that was key especially against Sweden in the play-off.
“Denmark were the best team but Sweden had Zlatan Ibrahimovic and he made the difference.
“They had a few games in their own hands, so they can really only blame themselves. Hopefully they learn from that in their preparation for the World Cup. It’s sad to watch the Euros without Denmark but I’m sure it will be a great tournament anyway,” he added.
Sorensen made 101 appearances for Denmark between 1999 and 2012 with his spell between the posts sandwiched by the two Schmeichels, Peter and his son Kasper.
Asked to compare Leicester City’s recent Premier League title winning keeper Kasper to his father Peter, who won the title five times with Manchester United, Sorensen said: “I think a lot of keepers would struggle to achieve what his dad did, but considering where Kasper has come from and with the name he’s had to live up to, he’s done it the hard way.
“He’s worked his way up and hasn’t taken any easy options, playing for Notts County, Leeds United, nobody thought he had any medals coming his way, but credit to his belief and doing the hard yards, he fully deserves it.”
As well as Sunderland and Stoke City, Sorensen also played for Aston Villa, who were relegated from the top flight for the first time since 1987 this season. “There was a lot of turmoil with a change in of ownership and staff,” he said of his former club’s demise.
“Sometimes too much change and talk in papers translates onto the pitch.
“They also sold [Christian] Benteke. That was a big thing as he really kept them alive the last couple of years and you can’t just replace 30 goals a season. They haven’t replaced with anyone near that and that is the major reason it panned out the way it has.
“But they are a big club and if they hold onto the core of their squad they will be one of the favourites to come up.
“A lot of teams struggle once they go down because it’s a different way of playing, it’s a lot more fast-paced and physical.
“If they are not ready for that challenge it’s going to be tough. But I’m sure they will get a manager in suited to that way of play, who will bring the right players in to give them a good shot of coming right back up.”
