Almost 12 years ago to the day, nearly 3,000 people lost their lives in the 9/11 terrorist attack in New York City. For national football coach Morten Olsen, losing a football game is apparently on par with that tragic event.
As Denmark prepares for its showdown World Cup qualifier against Armenia tonight in Yerevan, Olsen raised some eyebrows after he compared Denmark’s 0-4 humiliation at home to the Armenians in June to 9/11.
Olsen explained at a press meeting yesterday that the unexpected loss in Copenhagen still weighs heavily on him and his team.
“For us Danes I think that if you are in or around the team, this game in June is a blemish that needs to be washed away,” Olsen said. “Perhaps it’s a bit rough to compare, but in terms of football, it was our September 11.”
Later apologised
Trine Nebel, a rhetorician and communications consultant, argued that Olsen’s comparison was extremely inappropriate.
“Football is a game. I know that it’s also about money and for some people it’s a job, but it is a game and you step over moral boundaries by comparing September 11 with football,” Nebel told Ritzau news service. “It’s not just an emotional event for the US. As a nation, we in Denmark have also had to deal with the effects of September 11.”
Olsen later apologised for the ill-advised comparison on the Danish football association's Twitter account.
"I am sorry if the comparison had the unintended consequences of hurting some people," Olsen said.
Loss was a severe blow
Denmark’s hopes to reach the 2014 World Cup in Brazil were dealt a severe blow in June after the team endured their worst home defeat in recent memory.
“We played on June 11, but result-wise it feels like a stain. It’s something that still sits in all our players, and that is just fine, because it should,” Olsen said, hoping to avoid making the same mistakes in tonight’s return game in the Armenian capital.
Denmark’s World Cup hopes continue to hang in the balance despite their 2-1 win over Malta on Friday. Even if the Danes win their three remaining fixtures against Armenia, Italy and Malta, they are not guaranteed a play-off spot. A loss tonight in Yerevan would all but end their chances.
The World Cup qualifier between Denmark and Armenia kicks off tonight at 18:00 and can be seen on K6.
