EM 2024 Denmark’s unlucky guy of the evening: Joachim Andersen
Tragic figure on the Danish side: defender Joachim Andersen
© Martin Rickett / PA Images / Imago Images
In the space of four minutes, Denmark’s Joachim Andersen experienced an emotional rollercoaster ride in the round of 16 against Germany: a goal was disallowed and a penalty was awarded. On the tragedy of football.
Joy and sorrow often go hand in hand. No one had to experience this as harshly on Saturday evening as Joachim Andersen. The Danish defender gave his team a surprise lead in the 48th minute, but the VAR ruled the goal offside.
Just four minutes later, in the 52nd minute, the video assistant intervened again, this time on the other side. A cross from David Raum landed on a Danish arm. Consequently, after the check, referee Michael Oliver awarded a handball penalty to Germany. The offender, of course, was Joachim Andersen.
Kai Havertz coolly took the penalty into the right corner to make it 1-0 for the Germans. Joachim Andersen was clearly disappointed. And five minutes later, the 28-year-old was in the spotlight again. The Dane was shown the yellow card for a foul on Robert Andrich, who then had to be treated briefly. There was also a lot of frustration in the move.
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“The saddest Dane”
But that wasn’t enough. When Nico Schlotterbeck sent Jamal Musiala on his way with a through ball in the 68th minute, Joachim Andersen was responsible for the Munich player with his strong dribbling skills and ran after him. Musiala ran away from his defender and slotted home to make it 2-0 for Germany. Another cold shower for the Danes.
Afterwards, Joachim Andersen was no longer able to get back into the game and seemed completely absent on the pitch. After the final whistle, ZDF commentator Oliver Schmidt described the defender as the “saddest Dane” on the pitch. Some Germany fans will also have felt sorry for Andersen at that moment.
The fact that the German team was able to celebrate in the end is also due in particular to the Danish defender. He experienced the tragedy of football in concentrated form and became the unlucky one of the evening.
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