A sickness bug has disrupted Denmark’s plans for their make‑or‑break World Cup qualifier against Scotland in Glasgow on Tuesday. Brian Riemer, the Danish head coach, has admitted he is concerned over the situation amid fears that the ailment will spread further before kick-off.
Joachim Andersen and Rasmus Højlund missed Denmark’s surprising draw with Belarus on Saturday evening because of illness. The result in Copenhagen meant Scotland can still qualify automatically despite their 3-2 defeat against Greece. Steve Clarke’s side trail Denmark by a point in Group C as the teams prepare to meet in the final fixture. A draw will be sufficient for Denmark but the backdrop is fraught.
“Right now we have Joachim Andersen, who is sick, and we have Højlund, who is sick,” Riemer said. “And a staff member who is sick. We are in a situation where the doctor is on it. It is the season for such things. You can’t protect yourself 100% but we are doing everything we can and right now our hope and assessment is that we have put a plug in it and that on Tuesday we have 24 men who are fit for a fight and ready to play.
“Is it a worry ahead of Scotland? Yes, if you ask me if I would have wished that there had been no illness, and that there also will not be on Tuesday, then of course that’s the answer. But that’s natural.
“There are many things you don’t know. There are also many things we don’t know about Scotland. It’s the season for such things, and therefore we just have to take it as it comes. There is also a difference between having a little [illness] and being able to play well and lying in bed.
“There are many factors here and right now we are assuming that our assessment is that we are ready for Tuesday with all men. But I can’t tell you what the situation is right now. We are looking at it continuously.”
Clarke has called on Scotland’s supporters to be patient as Hampden Park prepares to stage its biggest game in years. A Scotland win will take the country back to a World Cup finals for the first time since 1998. “We need positive backing,” the Scotland manager said.
“One of my favourite sayings for the players is, play with the anticipation of success and not the fear of failure. I’m going to ask the Hampden crowd to do that on Tuesday night.
“We need them from the first minute to be with us and in the difficult moments in the game to be especially with us because that’s what this group of players deserve. If we get that I’m pretty sure we can do something special.”
