After the opening two matches of the European Championship qualifiers, all eyes will turn to Denmark – and not only because of the embarrassing loss to Kazakhstan.
Danish Rasmus Höjlund after two matches, is at the top of the EC qualifiers goal exchange with five hits. The 20-year-old striker, who plays for the Italian club Atalanta, also leads the statistics for goal attempts.
Höjlund already made headlines on Thursday, when he sank Finland in only the third international match of his career – and for the first time in the opening game. Huhkajie’s defense was buzzing with the fast and skilled Dane and got to admire no less than three hits from the parade ground.
Who the hell is Höjlund?
Höjlund’s performances have already been admired in Serie A this season. He moved to Atalanta at the end of August from the Austrian Sturm Graz.
Höjlund’s speed towards the top has been unimaginable: as recently as January of last year, he was a substitute for FC Copenhagen, and now he is an opening player in Serie A.
The Danish star, who started his soccer lessons in Copenhagen, has learned in his hometown, where he started his career in the Hörsholm-Usseröd team.
Like many other greats, Höjlund was skilled in many sports. Among other things, he was one of the best swimmers in his age group, but he finally chose soccer as his main sport at the age of nine, father Anders told Tipsbladet. (you switch to another service)
And Höjlund didn’t have to play soccer in the yard alone – the younger twin brothers did too Emil and Oscar are playing. They currently represent Rasmus Höjlund’s former club, FC Copenhagen.
The parents wanted to support the offspring in a sports career, as both have a sports background themselves: the father played football and the mother was a sprinter. To promote the football dream, the family even built a small football field in the basement.
Although Höjlund’s major league debut took place in the ranks of Copenhagen, he initially represented local opponent Bröndby. However, the main league debut took place in the ranks of FC Copenhagen in the 2020–2021 season.
Copenhagen was Hjölund’s favorite club even as a child. That’s why the farewell in January of last year felt really bad, according to Anders’ father.
– Leaving Copenhagen was the worst defeat of his career. He was always dressed in FCK shirts when he was little.
Combined with the European giants
However, Hjölund has not had to regret his departure.
This season, the Danish striker has scored seven times in the 23 Serie A matches he has played for the Italian club. The pace has accelerated this year: he has scored six times in Serie A and once in the cup.
The Danish striker’s potential was already known before the EC qualifying matches. In the Italian media, Höjlund was praised as Atalanta’s next incredible recruitment, for which the club nets significantly more money than the 17 million that it itself paid.
The Goal already described Italy in connection with the transfer Höjlund as “the hottest striker in the world”. (you switch to another service)
After the hat trick against the whiners, speculation about the new address of the Danish comet immediately began. According to Tipsbladet, in addition to Premier League giants Arsenal and Manchester United, the Danish striker has been linked to Juventus and Real Madrid, among others.
The next Haaland?
The versatile Hjölund has already been compared to a Norwegian paintball gun to Erling Haaland. The Danish star is not embarrassed by the comparison.
– I see similarities in us. He is fast, left-footed and has a good goal setting. He is a great finisher and his mentality is absolutely incomprehensible, Höjlund told The Goal.
Also Urheilu’s expert Jonne Kunnas is on the same lines.
– They are similar in terms of player types in many respects. Hjölund is physically raw, but fast, strong and good at protecting the ball. He is good at playing in front of the line and can dribble balls lower. Speed brings a threat from the back, especially in boxing, which was seen against Finland, Kunnas opens.
– The comparison is perhaps unfair, but I see that he has a good future. Atalanta is a good team in a good league. If he stays without injuries, then a couple of years and all doors are open.
A sample of fierce temper
One of Höjlund’s character traits was also seen in Sunday’s match against Kazakhstan. In Denmark, the captain made headlines Simon Kjärwhich prevented Hjölund from marching directly after the match for an interview with Danish TV2. (you switch to another service)
Hjölund already got hot from Kazakhstan’s penalty kick, and the defeat did not please the grumpy Danish striker, who went on to share his opinion about the refereeing of the match even after the match. Höjlund saw a yellow card in added time.
Kjär explained his actions later in an interview with Ekstrabladet. (you switch to another service)
– Rasmus is quite passionate. After the match, you have to think about your words and for Rasmus this was the best thing in this situation. I thought that in this situation the most important thing is to protect Rasmus.
Höjlund returned to the media after first visiting the locker room side.
– Simon thought I should sit down for a while and calm down. Quite fair, Höjlund acknowledged.