Froholdt stays on the bench, reigniting debate over Denmark's midfield | OneFootball

While in Portugal there is debate over Cristiano Ronaldo being used as a substitute in the win against Norway, Victor Froholdt is drawing attention in Denmark. The midfielder went from starter to an option used only in the final three minutes against Wales, in a 2-0 Danish victory that helped curb the growing criticism.

Denmark face Portugal on Thursday, and the midfield setup against the Welsh is being analysed by the local press. After the 3-2 defeat to Norway, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg publicly questioned his compatibility with Morten Hjulmand, the former Sporting player, arguing that the two have similar characteristics. The captain even asked the national coach to consider leaving one of them on the bench, but later backtracked and apologised for his words.

Before the clash with Wales, Brian Riemer admitted that fielding Hojbjerg, Hjulmand and Froholdt together could «pose a challenge» because it would «bring together players with a similar profile.» The coach kept the first two in the starting eleven, left the FC Porto midfielder on the bench and used Damsgaard in more central areas, with Isaksen on the wing. Riemer justified the choice, rejecting the idea that it represented a sacrifice or criticism aimed at Froholdt.

The result achieved against a less threatening opponent did not, however, put an end to the discussion over the balance of the midfield. For a significant section of Danish fans, the Hojbjerg-Hjulmand partnership still has not proved that it is the most suitable solution. The issue continues to fuel debate over how to fit in a highly promising midfielder in an area of the pitch already occupied by players of a similar profile.

Although Portugal is far away, the Portuguese league is followed closely. Last season, Froholdt was in the starting eleven in 32 of the 34 league rounds, recording six goals and six assists. With the Dane in the starting lineup, FC Porto registered 27 wins and four draws, while their only two defeats in the competition, against Casa Pia and Aves SAD, came in the matches in which he started… on the bench. The campaign earned him the awards for Best Player and Best Young Player in the league.

The midfielder also responded positively after the clash of heads he suffered in the match against Moreirense, which left him unconscious and ruled him out of the games against Manchester City and Casa Pia. On his return to the starting eleven, against Benfica, he scored the goal that gave FC Porto the lead, his tenth for the Dragons. The display reinforced the perception of a player capable of stepping up and deciding key moments and highly demanding matches.

His rise has also been accompanied by an increase in market value. Transfermarkt values Froholdt at 50 million euros, making him the second most valuable Danish footballer, behind only Rasmus Hojlund, the Napoli striker valued at 60 million euros in the latest update.

CIES, meanwhile, calculated the FC Porto player’s transfer value at 83.7 million euros, the highest among players competing outside Europe’s five major leagues. Although they are based on different criteria, both valuations reflect the midfielder’s growing stature. The question now is how he can consolidate that progress with the national team, at a time when he is enjoying a strong spell at FC Porto.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.