"That’s right, reaching the World Cup is the ultimate goal for any footballer. Sure, there’s the Champions League and other competitions, but how many times in your life do you get to play at a World Cup… I’ll approach this match as the biggest of my career. When I stood at Wembley, and we were about to play our first Premier League match, that was the biggest game for me at the time. But things change as you go," said the coach, who managed Belgian side Anderlecht before taking over the national team.
The Danish national football team held several special training sessions ahead of Tuesday’s World Cup qualification play-off final to prepare for the threat of former Czech national team captain Tomáš Souček (31). West Ham’s midfielder is a major threat, said coach Brian Riemer at Monday’s press conference, even though Souček only came on in the second half of Thursday’s semi-final against Ireland.
Souček recently lost the captain’s armband in the national team, and against Ireland, he started on the bench for only the second time in a competitive match for the national side since November 2021. Still, the Danes are preparing for him thoroughly.
"We know Souček well from the Premier League. He has incredible qualities, which is why we dedicated several special training sessions to prepare him. He’s a real threat and a very good player. We don’t know what the Czech coach will decide, but for me, Souček is excellent," said Riemer.
The Danish coach spent four years as an assistant to fellow countryman Thomas Frank at Brentford. In 2021, they led the Bees to their first appearance in England’s top flight since the 1946/47 season.
For Riemer, it was one of the highlights of his coaching career. He believes that on Tuesday at Prague’s Letná, he can achieve an even greater milestone. "We’ve had a really good week here in Prague. We’ve already had so many chances to secure qualification, but we’re ready to finish the job in the final. Our preparation has been good. Of course, we’re a bit nervous. I feel butterflies in my stomach, and the next 24 hours will be a bit tense," Riemer said with a smile.
Danish journalists asked if he, like many of his players, prays to God before the play-off final. "For me, when it comes to mental preparation, I think you shouldn’t say too much to the players. Everyone is different. Some people think the world will end tomorrow, while others don’t see it as such a big deal. Some turn to higher powers and to God; everyone deals with it in their own way. The important thing is that we stick together as a team," Riemer emphasized.