Ian Wright and Roy Keane blasted the performance of Manchester United striker Ramus Hojlund as Denmark crashed out of Euro 2024 after defeat to Germany.
The competition hosts sealed a 2-0 win in Dortmund on Saturday night with the game briefly suspended in the first-half after a ferocious thunderstorm hit the city.
Denmark crash out of the competition with Hojlund failing to get off the mark in the competition.
Before the storm forced the break in play, Denmark had two huge chances to take the lead with Hojlund involved in both of them. Nico Schlotterbeck was caught dallying on the ball inside his own box with the United star robbing him of possession. Instead of shooting across goal, he went for the near post – still managing to miss the target as he blasted into the side netting.
After play resumed following the storm, the former Atalanta star had another chance after being slid through one-on-one with Manuel Neuer in the German goal. Hojlund attempted to dink the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper but his effort was batted away by Neuer.
There was a third opportunity spurned in the second-half with Hojlund brilliantly controlling the ball on the box only to fire his shot straight at the goalkeeper.
Former United star Keane criticised the striker for making the wrong decision for that first opportunity.
‘We said before the game, if he gets one or two chances, he has to be clinical. And he’s not been,’ Keane said.
‘These are tough chances, they are not easy. This first one, he works hard to get it back, it is sloppy from Germany but he works hard to win it back and he gets in a great position.
‘You have to go across goal. You might hit the target, the goalkeeper might save it, you might get a tap in, whatever.’
Wright was even more scathing in assessing the second opportunity, questioning Hojlund’s instincts in front of goal.
‘You talk about a player improving and learning new things but that is something you should know right from the start,’ Wright said.
‘For this second chance, he takes a little step just before he gets to the ball. That gives the goalie some times. It’s brilliant from the goalkeeper but he gives the goalkeeper that fraction of a second and that’s all you need.
‘The goalkeeper is waiting for anything then. The goalkeeper is committed at that point, he’s down you just have to try and get it over him.’
Germany booked their place in the quarter-finals of the competition thanks to goals from Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala.
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