Worried Denmark battle sickness bug ahead of Scotland World Cup showdown - with Man Utd loanee among doubts

The Danes head into the final match in Group C a point ahead of second-placed Scotland knowing that they will qualify automatically for next summer’s finals should they avoid defeat at Hampden. However, they blew the chance to secure their berth with a game to spare after a surprise 2-2 draw at home to Belarus - with head coach Brian Riemer revealing afterwards that two key players missed out due to illness.

Fulham central defender Joachim Anderson and Napoli’s on-loan Man Utd striker Rasmus Hojlund did not play against the Belarussians in Copenhagen and are doubts for the match against Scotland. And Riemer is concerned that the sickness bug could spread through his squad ahead of what is a massive match for both nations.

“Well, right now we have Joachim Andersen, who is sick, and we have Højlund, who is sick,” explained Riemer. “And a staff member who is sick. And then there have been some who have had a few minor things, but it's nothing that worries us.

“We are in a situation where the doctor is on it. It is the season for such things. You can't protect yourself 100 per cent, but we are doing everything we can and right now our hope and assessment is that we have put a plug in that part of it, and that on Tuesday we have 24 men who are fit for fight and ready to play.

“Is it a worry ahead of Scotland? Yes, if you ask me if I would have wished that there had been no illness today, and that there also wasn't on Tuesday, then of course that's the answer. But that's a natural part of it.

“There are many things you don't know. There are also many things we don't know about Scotland. It's the season for such things, and therefore we just have to take it as it comes. There is also a difference between having a little and being able to play well, and then lying in bed.

“There are many factors here, and right now we are assuming that our assessment is that we are ready for Tuesday with all men. But I can't tell you what the situation is right now. We are looking at it continuously and right now we are positive.”

Schmeichel’s incredibly disappointing result

Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel lamented his team’s inability to see out the win against Belarus. The Danes went 1-0 up after 11 minutes at the Parken Stadion through a Mikkel Damsgaard strike and with Scotland losing 3-2 to Greece in Piraeus, they would have moved into an unassailable position had they hung on for all three points.

However, goals from Valeriy Gromyko (62) and Nikita Demchenko (65) gave the visitors a shock advantage and while Gustav Isaken levelled matters on 79 minutes, Denmark could not find a winner.

“I say it all the time - you should never expect to win a football match, because there are no easy matches,” said Celtic keeper Schmeichel. “It is not easy to win games at this level and you should not underestimate your opponent.

“We had beaten Belarus 6-0 last month and before the game I said in the dressing room that we shouldn't think it would be easy. They also have a skilled coach and some analysts who have seen what went wrong and have been able to come up with a new plan. So it's an incredibly disappointing result.

“I don't know if I would say we were shaken, but we were supposed to try to reset after their first goal and we didn't. On the bus ride back to the hotel, we can really think about the game. Then we have to move on, because there is a huge game waiting for us on Tuesday.”