If there are two things I know about Denmark, it’s that Nicklas Bendtner is a knucklehead and Christian Eriksen is really damn good.
Both of those truths were on display on Sunday.
The Denmark national team returned to full strength after an awkward semi strike saw a ragtag bunch of scabs from the futsal and youth ranks lose 3-0 to a disinterested Slovakia in a friendly on Wednesday.
Fortunately Eriksen and Co. were back for the country’s UEFA Nations League opener against Wales, which itself opened the Nations League with a 4-1 win over Ireland on Thursday.
Playing in Aarhus, the Danes took a 2-0 victory over the Welsh thanks to a brace from Eriksen. The first goal was a wonderfully placed strike off the far post and the second a penalty kick converted with aplomb.
Christian Eriksen led #Denmark to 2-0 win over #Wales with another star performance.
2 goals
5 shots
3 shots on target
5 chances created
77 touches
45/52 (86.5%) passes
3/3 long balls
8 crossesHe has 15 goals + 5 assists in his last 18 games.#DENWAL #NationsLeague #THFC pic.twitter.com/6kcpCHivA0
— #ThankYouDeuce (@JogaBonito_USA) September 9, 2018
The win put Denmark into first place on goal differential in League B Group 4, with Wales the only team of the three to have played twice.
But that wasn’t the only fun for Denmark fans to talk about on Sunday.
Earlier in the morning, Bendtner, the former Arsenal striker and omnipresent in the tabloids, was arrested for allegedly attacking a taxi driver, according to sources.
The current Rosenborg player broke the jaw of a taxi driver, who was sent to the hospital, according to reports.
Nicklas Bendtner has been reportedly arrested last night after a taxi driver's jaw was broken in Denmark! pic.twitter.com/rJi4Tcr8yZ
— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) September 9, 2018
(Shockingly, that’s not actually Bendtner’s mug shot; it’s just his team photo for Rosenborg.)
Details are still fuzzy on what exactly happened because no one wants to officially comment on the Bendtner arrest. But Bendtner is no stranger to making headlines off the pitch; he’s been arrested for drunk driving and his booze-drinking habits are no stranger to the tabloids.
So, yeah, Sunday was just another day in Denmark. Nothing rotten here.