The 2022 World Cup will be unique on so many levels. In Qatar, the best national football teams will have the opportunity to prove that they have the greatest talents in the world.
Denmark is one of 32 teams hoping to reach the final on 18 December. But even though they are an outsider to go all the way, they are strongly fancied to get out of a group that also includes Tunisia, France and Australia in the group stages.
Pledge of Allegiance
There is always an added element of excitement for families of mixed nationality. More specifically, they are those who have family ties to at least two of the candidates.
The rivalry can be jovial, mischievous or volatile – sometimes all at the same time. With national pride at stake, even children are not off limits when it comes to ensuring allegiance.
Mothers against sons, fathers at war with their daughters and Grandma mocking Grandpa, our living rooms become war zones.
Let the banter flow!
We have caught up with three families in Denmark who are facing exactly this predicament: having connections to Denmark and either Tunisia, France or Australia.
From Australian meat pies to French foie gras and Tunisian couscous, nothing was sacred among the banter ahead of the 2022 World Cup.
Australia
Here we go again! Drawn together in the same group in 2018, Australia and Denmark will meet again in a World Cup group stage: but decisively, this time, in the play-offs.
A question of birthrights
Danish-born Kenneth Petersen has shared his life with Australian native Katie since 2000. But despite spending part of his childhood in Australia, he is 100 percent behind the Danes.
Katie is also all in with Australia, despite having lived in Denmark for 14 years. Her heroes are Tim Cahill and Harry Kewell, two of the stars when the Socceroos and their golden generation reached the last 16 in 2006.
Their three children are more or less 50/50, so the atmosphere during the game will certainly be very intense.
It is unlikely to suit both
In 2018, the match ended in a 1-1 draw, leaving both sides with a hope of qualifying for the next round from the last game.
This time the game will be more decisive, so there is no room for emotions. May the best team win!
Are you going to watch the match together?
Katie: Definitely. We will be happy no matter what if Australia win or lose. But you never know, it’s football, anything can happen.
Who will be the most vocal during the game?
Kenneth: It will be interesting, because in the last WC Australia was also in the same group as Denmark. We watched the game together and I was really surprised by Katie’s volume, so I stepped back a little. She cheered a lot, shouted and got very excited about it all.
Who do you think is the favorite between the two teams?
Kenneth: I think we have one of the best teams we’ve had in a long time. We have a very good chance of going very far, and that puts a lot of pressure on the team. It will be interesting to see how it goes, whereas Australia has almost no expectations. No one thought they would qualify. They will do the best they can, and if they get something, it will be very good for them.
There is some division in the family regarding fidelity. How is it going at home?
Katie: I think the kids will support Denmark because they grew up here. But they also have Australian flags.
Kenneth: We went to Australia several times; they really like the country so it will be 50/50 I think.
What is more likely to happen on game day? A cold Tuborg or Australian meat pies?
Katie: Some Aussie things, like pies or lamingtons. It’s like what Americans do for the Superbowl, for example.
Who is most upset by a loss?
Kenneth: It would definitely be me. If you look at the group, the game against Australia we absolutely have to win. We would be super devastated if we lost that game.
What do you think the end result will be?
Katie: I’d say 3-1 to Australia.
Kenneth: At least 3-0 to Denmark if not 4-0.
Source: The Nordic Page
