Denmark boss on Ronaldo: 'It would be a huge mistake to underestimate him'

During Denmark's press conference on Wednesday in Helsingor ahead of their clash with Portugal, the spotlight fell squarely on the threat posed by Cristiano Ronaldo—despite ongoing debate surrounding the Portuguese captain's place in the starting lineup—and the stern test awaiting the Nordic side.

Asked about the qualities of Portugal's number 7, defender Joachim Andersen issued a clear warning to his backline: "We have to stay alert inside the box because that's where he scores his goals. That's clearly where he's most dangerous."

Denmark manager Brian Riemer echoed those sentiments and warned against taking the Al Nassr forward lightly. "He's a world-class player. He has evolved his game over time and, to me, he remains a huge icon. We would be making a massive mistake if we underestimated him," the coach emphasized.

Denmark head into the fixture navigating a grueling run of four matches in 11 days, heavily depleted by injuries. It is a predicament Brian Riemer revealed he recently discussed with a close friend: "In fact, I spoke to Stale Solbakken [Norway manager] about it yesterday."

When asked about his team's competitive standing and which nations Denmark should measure themselves against going forward, the manager put the match against Portugal into perspective. "It's always a tough question... But in modern football, some countries reach the top because they've worked for years to get there—Norway being an example. It's difficult to pinpoint exactly where we stand. Tomorrow will be a real test, and it will show us where we are against such a quality side," he explained.

Riemer also touched on dressing-room leadership, clarifying how the captaincy group operates while referencing an FC Porto player and a former Sporting CP midfielder. "We have a leadership group we work with—a core of leaders that is assessed from camp to camp," he said, revealing the players who make up this expanded unit: "It includes players like Joachim Andersen, Andreas Christensen, Morten Hjulmand, Rasmus Hojlund, and Victor Froholdt."