Dubai: Denmark can still reach the 2018 World Cup despite a poor start to qualifying and failing to make the last two major tournaments, according to former Red and Whites striker Ebbe Sand.
The 1992 European Champions, who failed to qualify for World Cup 2014 and Euro 2016, are currently fourth in their group on three points from three matches having beaten Armenia before defeats to Poland and Montenegro. Their next game is at home to Kazakhstan on November 11, followed by Czech Republic on November 15.
“We have a good young team, unfortunately they need more time but they still have a chance of reaching the next World Cup,” said Sand after announcing plans on Monday to open a green and sustainable multi-sports academy in his name at Dubai’s Jumeirah Golf Estates by 2018.
“Again they are young and we have to be patient but who is patient in football? We want results to qualify because we are used to that,” added the 44-year-old who played in two World Cups and two Euros, scoring 22 goals in 66 appearances for his country between 1998 and 2004.
“There are many young talents, so I see a good future and I hope they qualify for 2018, but we need the starting 11 to play in bigger leagues.”
Major current Danish players in top leagues include Christian Eriksen at Tottenham Hotspur and Kasper Schmeichel at Leicester City.
“Over time more and more players will go abroad to play in bigger leagues and that has been the challenge in the past. Too many Danish players were still playing in Denmark, it’s an OK league but it can’t compare to the bigger leagues of Europe. We have to have our best players go abroad to play in better leagues.
“I know exactly what it’s like to play club football in Denmark and then play in an international, it’s so much faster and you only get used to that when you’re playing at a higher standard every single day,” said the former Brondby player, who went on to play in Germany’s Bundesliga with Schalke for seven years.
“And by playing, I mean they have to go out and have success, we’ve had players outside in bigger leagues but if they are not actually playing it won’t help us,” he stressed.
