I DOUBT if Kasper Schmeichel lost a wink of sleep while criticism piled up following his performance for Denmark in the 5-2 UEFA Nations League defeat against Portugal in Lisbon last weekend.
Observers raced to have their say as the Danes saw a one-goal first leg advantage obliterated in the Portuguese capital.
Schmeichel was hand-picked as the Aunt Sally in direct line of the condemnation of the media, supporters and even former players who should know a lot better before chucking in their tuppence worth.
Celtic’s 38-year-old keeper will be more aware than anyone else about his display against Cristiano Ronaldo and Co.
Some of the analysis may well have some validity. However, a fair percentage will be utterly worthless.
PAIN IN PORTUGAL…crestfallen Danish keeper Kasper Schmeichel with the ball after conceding the third goal in Lisbon.
No position in football is less understood than that of the last line of defence. You and I hear from so-called experts in just about every game when someone who has never stood in front of a wayward, dipping, swerving ball that the goalie has just made a save “you would expect him to make.”
A disconcerting number of these fault-finders feel they have to say something to fill the air. In the main, they haven’t got a clue what they are talking about.
They have never played in a position where you have to work on angles, cover near posts, make sure there is no void behind them, when to come into traffic or elect to stay on a line when a variety of swirling crosses drop into the danger zone.
I watched the highlights of the Danes’ loss in Lisbon. I can understand the disappointment of a nation as they headed for a well-earned victory as the match reached the 86th minute.
At that stage, the game on the night was level at 2-2 with the visitors 3-2 ahead on aggregate. Schmeichel rose to a high cross to punch the ball to the edge of the box.
It was worked to Francisco Trinicao who flashed a low shot into the net to force the tie into extra-time.
A minute into the added-on period, Schmeichel pushed away a shot to his left. Unfortunately, the rebound went straight to the same player who swept in his country’s fourth goal.
The fifth goal simply cemented Portugal’s comeback and condemned Denmark to despair.
Could Schmeichel have done better at the third and fourth goals? Simply viewing the highlights, I would say yes.
The keeper could have caught the cross he elected to punch. He may well have held onto the low shot that saw the ball squirm to the lurking Trinicao to strike a decisive goal.
Let’s be honest. Schmeichel’s first-half showing against Rangers a fortnight ago was not overly impressive. His distribution was erratic and his positioning for Nicolas Raskin’s glancing header from a left-wing corner-kick could have been deemed suspect.
Please remember, dear reader, the sportsman who has not experienced turbulence in their chosen profession is yet to be born.
FACE OF CONCERN…Kasper Schmeichel directs his Celtic team-mates in the first-half against Rangers.
But we don’t need all the nonsense that comes into play and you have to wonder at the wisdom of former international team-mate Nicklas Bendtner who wants the veteran to be axed after 115 appearances for Denmark – and remember, too, he is his country’s captain.
The one-time Arsenal forward offered us this sage advice: “Kasper is 38 now. I like him a lot, but he cost us a lot of goals in Portugal.
“He has grown bigger.”
Bendtner doesn’t expand – no pun intended – on his comments about Schmeichel’s girth. Is he referring to a Billy Bunter in gloves? A role-poly custodian we may have to squeeze between the posts when he recovers from the shoulder injury he sustained in a less-than-memorable evening in Lisbon?
It’s simply foolish to make noises that the scrapheap beckons for a custodian who kept his country in the contest with an early save from a penalty-kick from Ronaldo – albeit not the best effort from 12 yards by the Portuguese maverick.
Schmeichel will not need Bendtner or any other technically inept judge to tell him what he already knows.
He is now out for an unspecified number of games, but the evergreen performer WILL be back and he will remind us why he has gained legendary status in the game.
We may debate all sorts of angles on recent displays from Schmeichel, but there can be no argument about his commitment or pedigree.
He will have the last word.
ALEX GORDON
*DON’T miss the unbeatable match report from Celtic v Hearts this afternoon – only in your champion CQN.
