Associated Press
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Denmark national team coach Kasper Hjulmand resigned on Friday, deciding not to lead the team into 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Hjelmand said in a statement that the team needed fresh energy after Denmark's Euros defeat to Germany in the round of 16 in a match that featured one of the most controversial refereeing decisions of the tournament.
The 52-year-old coach guided Denmark to the semi-finals at the last Euros in 2021 and was widely praised domestically for the way he handled the emotional aftermath after midfielder Christian Eriksen went into cardiac arrest in the team's opening game. He also guided the team to the 2022 World Cup, where Denmark were eliminated in the group stage.
The Danish Football Association announced that Hjelmind's assistant coach, Morten Wieghorst, had been promoted to head the team for the Nations League until November. Denmark are in the top group with European champions Spain, Switzerland and Serbia.
At Euro 2024, Denmark drew all three of their group matches against England, Slovenia and Serbia.
The match against hosts Germany was suspended for 25 minutes because of a heavy thunderstorm, and then early in the second half, successive video reviews upset the game, resulting in a 2–0 defeat. A goal by Joachim Andersen was ruled off for offside, and then a penalty was awarded for a handball when a cross hit a defender's arm.
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