Matt O’Riley faces an anxious wait as the final five names in the Danish World Cup squad are revealed.
In an unusual move coach Kasper Hjulmand named 21 of his 26 man squad last night with the others to be named over the coming days.
With just six u-21 caps it would have been a shock if O’Riley had been named in the core squad but it seems that there are still places up for grabs as the European season comes to a halt as the focus switches to Qatar.
Last night the Danish Football Union announced:
With just two weeks until the men’s national team’s first match at the World Cup finals, Kasper Hjulmand has selected the first 21 out of 26 players who will fight for the big honours. The squad includes experienced names such as Christian Eriksen, Simon Kjær and Kasper Schmeichel, while there has also been room for young forces such as Oliver Christensen and Jesper Lindstrøm.
Due to the short period between the last matches in the European leagues and the men’s national team’s first match in the final round, Kasper Hjulmand has provisionally selected 21 out of 26 possible players. The remaining five players will be named during the coming week, when the final matches in the European leagues will be played.
The first task for the WC will be Tuesday 22 November at 14 against Tunisia, then France awaits on the 26th and Australia on the 30th.
O’Riley was picked as UEFA’s Man of the Match in Celtic’s 1-1 Champions League draw with Shakhtar Donetsk, with Callum McGregor injured the former MK Dons man has shown his versatility by playing in a deeper role.
Although Celtic have matches against Motherwell and Ross County it is unlikely that performances in those matches will influence the Danish national manager.