Ben Christensen in Gazeta: “Denmark’s miracle is bigger than Greece and Olympiacos is unforgettable”

– In between, she also went to Euro 1992 with Denmark. How did you feel when you found out?

“It’s kind of a funny story. We hadn’t qualified for the European Nations Cup finals and I remember we were playing against Russia at home and after the match some people from the federation told us that we shouldn’t leave early for the holiday because there was a chance that we would leave. After 2-3 days we talked More and more with the federation members about what would happen. It was a bit strange because after the Russia match, we were supposed to go on vacation, so… all our plans were ruined (laughs).

– Did you go on vacation?

“No no. We’re not going to England with my wife but we canceled the trip because we had to wait a few days to see what happens with the Euros. I know some of the players who were playing in Spain or Italy just went home and had a holiday, but we were all on the phone waiting to see what “It will happen so that we can return as soon as possible. At the Etihad, they told us that we would leave, it was just a delay for all of this.”

– When you went with the mission, how were things?

“It was very strange because we didn’t play any games. When you don’t go to the Euros, you have a plan to play some friendlies but also about where you are going to stay, where you are going to train and what your schedule is. Every day we had to see what we were going to do ( (Laughs.) We were generally confused. We were looking for a place to train and a place to stay, but we were prepared mentally and spiritually.

Ben Christensen
Denmark – Euro 1992 pic.twitter.com/mUqe5qN5Lg

– Stickerpedia (@Stickerpedia1) June 9, 2020

– Do you think you can take it?

“We couldn’t believe it, no! We were in a tough group with big teams and we thought we had no chance. We thought it was a good chance to have fun and play beautiful football. We were comfortable I would say. We didn’t think it was possible to beat it. We’re not talking Even about that.”

-What happened to your injury?

“I played in the first two matches against England and Sweden. Before the third match with France, I started to feel some pain in my knee. I spoke to the doctor and he said things were not good. There was an opportunity to play, so I stayed in the team normally for about two days, and sat on the benches.” Substitute against France but I was unable to play and it was decided that I would return to Denmark to start treatment. Schalke needed me, so I returned for surgery.”

It is unfortunate that you left the euro at a time like this.

“It was difficult but also…it was good the day before the match in France, my son came back to life, so it was great for me to be there for my wife and son, but also because I left the European Championship with an ankle injury.” knee. “I think it would be very difficult for me if I stayed away from them any longer.”

– When the team won the title, how did you feel?

“It was great but also strange. I’m still like ‘How is that possible?’ (laughs). We played against big teams and, well, there’s luck sometimes, but how we did it was a bit strange. Maybe we succeeded because it wasn’t We have to play as many matches as the teams play now (the group, the semi-final, finally, in a total of five matches. It’s like a movie, like a fairy tale…”).

– The biggest miracle: 2004 with Greece or 1992 with Denmark?

“It’s difficult. They’re both huge surprises. I’d probably say Denmark because it was normal not to go to the Euros, and for some reasons outside of football, we went and won. Greece were definitely less fortunate in the tournament and managed to qualify but they played some good games before.” “I reached the finals. For me, the invasion of Greece is one of the greatest invasions in history.”

-You also had Mikael Laudrup as a teammate…

“He is the best player I have played with in my career. He has achieved great success at club level and at international level, he is a top player. I think he was one of the best players in the world at that time and he needed players of his level to understand what he wanted. Sometimes I had A feeling that I couldn’t understand exactly what he wanted in the national team. For example, I remember him saying in one match: “Why did he stay there and not go where I wanted?” (laughs) There was no communication in my opinion because he was so good and he didn’t I can understand what he wants to do!

Dinamarca Campeón de la Euro 92, Torneo que no se había clasificado, Arriba; Peter Schmeichel, Lars Olsen, John Sevback, Kim Villefort, Kim Christofte and Brian Laudrup, Abajo; Kent Nielsen, John Jensen, Henrik Andersen, Flemming Povlsen and Bent Christensen, D.T. Richard Müller Nielsen pic.twitter.com/aHgsqgYnrs

– Ricardo Fernandez F. (@ricardomfv76) July 10, 2018