The decision to leave Celtic star Matt O’Riley out of the Denmark squad for the upcoming EURO 2024 tournament has caused a bit of a stir amongst football fans and journalists in the country.
Kasper Hjulmand named his 26-man line-up yesterday and there was no place for O’Riley, despite the Bhoys midfielder winning two senior caps with the country over the last eight months.
O’Riley has been in super form for Celtic, scoring 19 goals and assisting 18 more in all competitions across the 2023/24 season. He’s produced numbers from midfield that have people using words such as “phenomenal” to describe him. Yet he misses out, and some media observers have been left perplexed.
Earlier, we discussed Thomas Gravesen’s comments. The former Celtic and Denmark star criticised Hjulmand for a formulaic selection that didn’t capitalise on who is playing well week in, week out.
Others have been having their say, too, and the Denmark boss hasn’t escaped criticism.
Danish media deliver the verdict on Matt O’Riley
Camilla Boraghi of Ekstra Bladet was perhaps the most forthright, stating [translated via DeepL]: “There is no injustice when a coach selects his team. It is his right, as the leader he ultimately is. Yet it is precisely the feeling of injustice that I am left with. Not on behalf of Matt O’Riley, but on behalf of Denmark.
“Because Kasper Hjulmand’s (not so surprising) surprising omission of O’Riley from his preliminary European Championship squad symbolises the lack of courage and creativity that the Danish men’s national team so heartbreakingly cries out for.”
BT took a more diplomatic view, suggesting that Hjulmand’s relationship with established players has value, but also concluded: “Red-hot Matt O’Riley’s absence in the midfield has to stand out as the omission that makes us frown the most.”
Meanwhile, TV2 journalist Thomas Sønnichsen told Sky Sports: “All the experts saw Matt O’Riley in that team because of that amazing season with Celtic. He’s not done amazingly with the Danish national team in the two games so far but he seems like he could be the future and you should be putting the future in your team for the Euros because you are also preparing for the next tournament.”
Sønnichsen also referenced the social media outcry that has followed with many Danish fans taking to various platforms to share their surprise at O’Riley’s absence.
There’s still a chance of an injury or two allowing the Celtic star to feature. He’s training and keeping himself fit rather than heading off on holiday. He’ll do everything he can to keep himself in contention – a sign of how strong his mentality is.