Croatia vs Denmark, World Cup 2018: Andreas Christensen falls flat on his face in midfield audition – scouting report

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How do you combat a midfield of Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Ivan Perisc and Ante Rebic? It’s a very impressive flat four which have been playing behind Mario Mandzic, it works so well as a quartet and as individuals. Denmark manager Age Hareide’s solution to this conundrum was the cram Andreas Christensen into their midfield.

It seemed a reasonable move to play a centre-back by trade in a midfield against a side that have been dominating the middle of the pitch in every game they’ve played together at this tournament. Christensen was the ideal candidate given the poise on the ball he has been showing in his breakout year at Chelsea.

Christensen played 40 games for Chelsea in 2017-18, but his time with the first team has not always been that simple. He spent two successful years on loan at Borussia Monchengladbach and earned his way into the first team at Stamford Bridge, something that has been a pipe dream for so many Chelsea youth players before him.

Hareide’s experiment was not without preparation. Christensen moved into holding midfield against France as Denmark played out a dull 0-0 draw in their final group match. Whether France’s ineffective attack was down to their reserve players not showing up, or if it was down to Christensen’s patrolling of the midfield is a matter to debate. Either way, you could make a case for it working against France.

Mathuas Jorgensen’s early goal against Croatia gave Denmark something to hold on to. Three minutes after their first minute opener, disaster struck. Henrik Dalsgaard’s clearance from inside his own box cannoned off Christensen’s face and fell to Mario Mandzukic who slotted in an equalising goal.

Things did not really pick up for Christensen who was quickly learning that you get far less time on the ball as you play further up the pitch. He was being pressed into mistakes and gave away the ball in dangerous areas on a couple of occasions.

At half-time Hareide had seen enough and withdrew Christensen in place of the more attack minded Lasse Schone. The plan had failed and Christensen’s World Cup was over.

Let’s assume for a minute that Maurizio Sarri does join Chelsea, where would Christensen fit in? Sarri sets up with a standard 4-3-3 at Napoli but things switch up in different scenarios. On the ball one of the three midfielders will drop into the defence and make a back three as the full backs push on and provide width as a four in midfield. So, could Christensen do this role? Probably not. Sarri will want a more accomplished player on the ball, perhaps Cesc Fabgregas, to provide an extra bit of creativity from deep.

There’s no doubt that Christensen is becoming a very accomplished central defender, but for now it will remain just that.