Copenhagen offered Morten Hjulmand another demanding international evening on Thursday, as Denmark welcomed Portugal to Parken Stadium with the Atlético de Madrid midfielder wearing the captain’s armband once more. Portugal arrived without Cristiano Ronaldo, who had departed Jorge Jesus’s squad, and left the Danish capital with a victory from a difficult away setting.
Hjulmand began in midfield alongside Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, with Denmark coach Brian Riemer retaining the pairing despite recent criticism of his preferred double pivot. Against a Portuguese side carrying considerable attacking quality, the captain was asked to provide both discipline and endurance. He put in the necessary defensive work to restrict Portugal’s advances and kept his use of possession uncomplicated when Denmark had the ball.
The hosts showed resilience throughout a lively contest, twice drawing level after Portugal had moved ahead. That response, however, was not enough to prevent the visitors claiming the result in Copenhagen.
Hjulmand’s night ended in the 74th minute, when Victor Froholdt replaced him. Denmark now have one final fixture in this international spell: an away meeting with Wales in Cardiff on Sunday, kicking off at 20:45.
The midfielder is due back at Atlético’s Majadahonda training base on Tuesday, where Diego Simeone will begin preparations for the trip to Mendizorroza to face Deportivo Alavés on Saturday the 10th.
