Hareide’s men patched up to face into battle

AHEAD of the play-off drama, the Danish squad had dinner last night at Kronborg Castle, the setting for Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, before retiring ‘to sleep, perchance to dream’ of the World Cup finals in Russia. The castle, known by the bard as Elsinsore, is located at Helsingor, the closest point between Denmark and Sweden, separated by just four kilometres across the Oresund. Kronbog was also the location of the statue of Holger The Dane. The bearded Viking was dormant with the promise of waking to fight when Denmark needed his strength. For the moment, Age Hareide won’t be prodding Holger awake to face Ireland as the Danish coach has most of the props he wants for battle on the World Cup stage. The chief concern is Nicolai Jorgensen, the Feyenoord striker. Jorgensen damaged his wrist in Eredivise action at the weekend and didn’t train yesterday as he was being fitted for at protective cast for the play-offs. He is expected to be available for selection. Centre-backs Simon Kjaer (hamstring) and Andreas Bjelland (head wound) as well as Atalanta striker Andreas Cornelius (back), all trained yesterday. Hareide (left) has called for ‘patience’ from his players but he expects Denmark to have more forays into Irish territory than the other way around having studied the World Cup stats zone. ‘Ireland has just over 500 successful passes on the last third. We have about 1,100 passes on that part of the pitch. It shows what we emphasise,’ said Hareide.