Italy’s repechage to the World Cup: Denmark hopes for a resounding encore
With less than two months to go before the World Cup kicks off in Canada, the United States and Mexico, the debate rages over Iran’s possible absence from the World Cup and its possible replacement. Tehran, after unsuccessfully asking FIFA to move the Group G matches scheduled to take place in Los Angeles and Seattle, has in recent days returned to the charge demanding strict security measures in the U.S. to protect its national team and the entire delegation throughout their stay on American soil.
The Iranian federation will have to give a final answer on its selection’s presence at the World Cup by the end of April, and the continuing war in the Middle East seems to be pushing this possibility away. In the event of a forfeit, the ball would be in FIFA’s court, which would have to find a replacement national team that could be included in the group with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand.
Rumors in recent days whisper of a possible four-team mini-tournament with two European (Italy and Denmark, the best-ranked among the non-qualifying teams) and two Asian (United Arab Emirates and Oman).
The news also reached Denmark, and it led to quite a few suggestions and amarcords: it was precisely the Copenhagen selection that was the protagonist of a resounding repechage at the 1992 European Championships. Denmark was repechaged only 10 days before the start of the tournament to replace wartime Yugoslavia, and despite their unpreparedness they resoundingly won the continental tournament.
The hypothesis of a resounding encore fascinates but also causes debate among the Danes, who on social media were divided over this incredible opportunity: “It’s Euro 92 again,” “We’re just following the ’92 script! Brilliant!”, “Let’s believe”, “Remake of ’92”, “Well, the last time we were involved in a cancellation, we ended up winning the whole tournament. Of course, it’s the European Championships and not the World Cup, but let’s do it again!”
In contrast, there is no shortage of those who are against it: “No. The UAE came third in Iran’s group and should get the spot, just like we did in 1992. We’ve had enough chances already, and so has Italy,” “I’m looking forward to losing to the UAE,” “We won’t participate because we’re not good enough. It would simply be a declaration of failure if we did it this way,” “No, it would be embarrassing,” “Enough. We didn’t deserve it. The whole federation should be replaced.”
Denmark was eliminated in the playoffs by the Czech Republic after penalty kicks, just like what happened to Italy in Bosnia.
