Leeds United man's World Cup break fails to go according to plan as busy January awaits - YEP 2/12/22
Rasmus Kristensen’s Denmark were eliminated from the FIFA World Cup at the group stage meaning the defender will now return to Leeds United in preparation for the resumption of the Premier League campaign
Joe Donnohue
Besides being one of the most prestigious opportunities in a
player’s professional career, the World Cup was supposed to offer respite to
Leeds United defender Rasmus Kristensen after a tricky start to life at Elland
Road. The 25-year-old Danish international had become a regular starter under
national team boss Kasper Hjulmand in the lead up to this year’s Finals, but
failure to defeat France, Australia or Tunisia during the group stage means the
Euro 2020 semi-finalists were bound for a premature exit, in the end propping
up Group D.
Kristensen’s Denmark form has been positively consistent
since establishing himself as a first-choice national team player, operating
well against the likes of France’s Kylian Mbappe in back-to-back Nations League
victories prior to facing Les Bleus at the World Cup. Featuring as a
right-sided wing-back, a right-midfielder and as a more conventional full-back
in a four-man defence, Kristensen has been able to showcase his tactical
flexibility on the international stage.
But, Denmark’s elimination after just three matches – and
Kristensen’s half-time substitution in their 1-0 defeat by Australia – means
the Dane’s international posting has been cut short. The World Cup, in
particular the group stage, could have provided the Leeds full-back with an
opportunity to build confidence, going up against world-beating attackers, in a
system that complements his naturally strong transitional attributes.
Instead, the tournament has served as a continuation of what
has been a difficult bedding in period for the former Red Bull Salzburg
defender. That said, there have been indications in the weeks leading up to the
World Cup that Kristensen is beginning to get the hang of the Premier League.
Rarely do signings from leagues as inferior in quality as the Austrian
Bundesliga, adapt seamlessly. After all, England’s top flight is among the
fiercest and fastest in the world.
Leeds’ calendar heading into the New Year is set to be a
congested one, with a month’s worth of fixtures to fulfil that ordinarily would
have been contested during the World Cup. On top of that, the passing of Queen
Elizabeth II earlier this year meant fixtures versus Nottingham Forest and
Manchester United were postponed and with some certainty will now be rearranged
in 2023.
The Dane must now use the four weeks until Leeds’ next
competitive fixture to balance rest and recovery, with preparedness, intensity
and a desire to build on what was – at times – a shaky dress rehearsal. The
nature of Denmark’s Qatar exit is unlikely to help him, but the player’s
resolute approach should at the very least stand him in good stead as he aims
to keep Luke Ayling stationed on the substitutes’ bench in 2023.
