Age Hareide says Denmark were lucky to beat Peru in World Cup opener
Yussuf Poulsen's goal enough for Denmark to claim narrow win
Saturday 16 June 2018 22:47, UK
Denmark coach Age Hareide says his country had been fortunate to beat Peru 1-0 in their World Cup opener on Saturday.
The Norweigan was indebted to both Christian Cueva's missed penalty and some heroics from goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel to keep a clean sheet as Yussuf Poulsen's second-half finish proved enough.
After the game, Hareide was magnanimous in victory over a Peru side who were taking part in their first World Cup game for 36 years.
"Peru are an outstanding team," he said. "They are a good team, and we knew that. They have a quick style of play, and we know and have a lot of respect for them.
"They got very little and probably deserved more - sometimes that happens. We were on the lucky side."
Hareide added midfielder William Kvist's World Cup could already be over, after he was substituted during the second half of their win over Peru.
He was followed by Chelsea defender Andres Christensen late-on, but his fate looks to be more upbeat having only been removed as a precaution.
"If it's a fractured rib he's out for the rest of the World Cup for sure. We cannot replace a player at this point in the tournament so we'll be down to 22 if he is out," Hareide said.
"Christensen had a bit of a cramp so we couldn't take any chances with him," he added. "Fortunately we had other good defenders."
