A decent track record
Nevertheless, CPH POST once in a while gives its best offer in relation to the stars of the future on Denmark’s national team.
We did it ten years ago in 2012, listing six players aged 15-18 to look out for going forward.
Not to toot our own horn, but four out of six ended up playing for Denmark (Andreas Christensen, Victor Fischer, Christian Nørgaard and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg), so not a bad effort from us.
And with the WC just around the corner (barring injuries, Christensen, Højbjerg and Nørgaard are sure), we thought why not give it another chance. This time, however, we tried with eleven talents aged 18 and under.
So without further ado, here are eleven potential stars for Denmark in 2026:
Zidan Sertdemir (17) – midfielder, Bayer Leverkusen
Despite his young age, he has already played three games for Bayer Leverkusen and is a stalwart in the Danish U19 squad. The Ishøj kid with Turkish roots is rated among the biggest talents in Denmark at the moment and was on The Guardian’s Next Generation 2022 list, which highlights the 60 best talents in the world.
Jonathan Asp-Jensen (16) – midfielder, Bayern Munich
Another midfielder, Asp-Jensen, has had a strong start to his career with the German giants following his move from FC Midtjylland earlier this year. Two goals and four assists in six games for the club’s U17 team is a good reflection of that. Can he follow in Pierre-Emile Højbjerg’s footsteps at Bayern?
Silas Andersen (18) – midfielder, Inter Milan
After leaving FC Copenhagen for Inter Milan last year, Andersen has performed well for the Italian club’s youth team, dishing out four assists in seven games this season from his defensive midfield position. But can he break through in a league that is notoriously difficult for youngsters to make the first team?
Chidozie (Chido) Obi (14) – Striker, Arsenal
A bit of a gamble given his age, but the lad with Nigerian roots looks set to have a promising future at Arsenal and has already played one game for their under-18s despite being just 14 years old. It’s early days for sure, but he could follow in Nicklas Bendtner’s footsteps (at least his early years) and go all the way. Scored for Denmark under 16 the other day.
Christian Østergaard (17) – defender, Wolfsburg
Another Bundesliga prospect, Østergaard has played a number of games for Wolfsburg’s youth team since moving to Germany from Randers last year. Despite being 17, he is already playing for the club’s U-19s, for whom he has picked up an assist. Also in Denmark’s u-18 squad.
Tobias Lund Jensen (16) – winger, Club Brugge
Jensen only recently joined the Belgian outfit this summer from OB Odense, but he is already getting a game in the UEFA Youth League for Club Brugge. He also has two goals in three games for Denmark’s U17 team.
Oscar Fraulo (18) – midfielder, Borussia Mönchengladbach
The midfielder with Italian roots already has two goals in five games for Denmark’s U19 team and this summer secured a move from FC Midtjylland to the Bundesliga. So far he has played matches for Borussia M’gladbach’s reserves, but he has also been on the bench in the Bundesliga and the German Cup.
Patrick Dorgu (17) – left back, Lecce
Since he left FC Nordsjælland for Serie A outfit Lecce this summer, Dorgu has been with the club’s youth team. And despite being only 17 years old, he already has a goal and an assist in two games for Denmark’s U19 team.
William Clem (18) – midfielder, FC Copenhagen
FC Copenhagen recently extended Clem’s contract at the club until 2026, and you can easily understand why. A tenacious defensive midfielder, Clem won the Danish U19 league with FCK last year and made his debut for the Danish U19 team this month.
Oscar Schwartau (16) – forward, Brøndby
Denmark can get a future number 9 in Schwartau, where the kid recently became the youngest player in Brøndby history at the age of 16 years and 61 days. He followed that up by becoming the youngest league goalscorer for the club. Sprinkle four goals in nine youth games for Denmark so far.
Gustav Christensen (17) – left wing, FC Midtjylland
Christensen looks to be the next big talent out of Herning thanks to his prolific goalscoring ability as a winger. He already has eight goals in just six games for FCM’s u-19s and is also scoring them for Denmark – nine goals in eleven games for the u-18s and u-19s. And he’s only 17!
Source: The Nordic Page
