Knudsen's Denmark Face Peru in World Cup Opener Saturday, 16th Jun 2018 10:30 Jonas Knudsen’s Denmark get their World Cup Group C campaign under way this afternoon when they take on Peru in Saransk (BBC1 from 4.30pm). The three-times-capped Blues defender is unlikely to start with Udinese's Jens Stryger Larsen’s having been a regular fixture in Knudsen’s preferred left-back role going into the finals, despite primarily being a right-sided full-back. Denmark subsequently play Australia on Thursday afternoon and France on Tuesday 26th June. If Knudsen makes it on to the field this afternoon the former Esbjerg fB man will become the 10th Blues player to make an appearance at a World Cup finals. John Wark and Alan Brazil represented Scotland in 1982 when Mick Mills was England’s captain with Paul Mariner and Terry Butcher also in Ron Greenwood’s side.
Bontcho Guentchev featured for Bulgaria in 1994, Matt Holland was in Mick McCarthy’s Republic of Ireland team in 2002, Slovenian defender Amir Karic was still a Town player at the same tournament. Most recently Tommy Smith played all three games for New Zealand in South Africa in 2010. George Burley was in the Scotland squad in 1982 but didn't play, while John Elsworthy was named in the Wales 22 for the 1958 World Cup in Sweden but the FAW couldn't afford to send a full squad and the left-half remained at home. It’s been quite a week for the 25-year-old with his wife Trine having given birth to their first child, a daughter, on Tuesday. Elsewhere, former Blues loanee Massimo Luongo, currently with QPR, will be in action for Australia in this morning’s first Group C game against France in Kazan (BBC1 from 10.30am).
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