{"id":39974,"date":"2026-03-14T10:24:25","date_gmt":"2026-03-14T10:24:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/39974\/"},"modified":"2026-03-14T10:24:25","modified_gmt":"2026-03-14T10:24:25","slug":"schmeichel-faces-six-weeks-out-withdraws-from-denmark-squad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/39974\/","title":{"rendered":"Schmeichel faces six weeks out & withdraws from Denmark squad"},"content":{"rendered":"

Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has withdrawn from the Denmark squad for their upcoming World Cup play-off against North Macedonia.<\/p>\n

The 39-year-old hasn’t featured for Celtic since their 2-1 defeat to Hibernian on 22 February due to illness but has also been struggling with a shoulder injury he picked up on international duty last year.<\/p>\n

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Celtic welcome Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership this afternoon and manager Martin O’Neill confirmed in his press conference on Friday that Schmeichel had returned to training but wasn’t sure if he’d be fit enough for the squad.<\/p>\n

Now the goalkeeper has told Danish media he’s had to pull out of international duty.<\/p>\n

“I called Brian [Riemer] and said that I cannot play the upcoming World Cup matches here in March,” he told Sport TV2<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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“It really breaks my heart, because throughout my career I’ve done everything I can to play for the Danish national team. It’s simply the biggest thing for me.<\/p>\n

“I’m right behind the lads all the way, and I know they’ll give their all to qualify for the World Cup.<\/p>\n

“A year ago, I dislocated my shoulder against Portugal, but stayed on the field and played on because we did not have any more substitutions. It left me with some lingering effects that I’ve been able to live with \u2013 and to play through.<\/p>\n

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“However, the last few months have taken a turn for the worse with my shoulder, and it has really caused me problems. Then, we played the Europa League against Stuttgart a few weeks ago, I landed on my shoulder for their first goal and damaged it again.”<\/p>\n

Schmeichel confirmed that he’ll now take a four to six week break from playing in order to focus on healing his shoulder.<\/p>\n

Domestically, that could see him miss the majority of what’s left of Celtic’s Scottish Premiership season.<\/p>\n

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“I’ve done everything I could to get fit ever since,” he added.<\/p>\n

“I’ve had various treatments, injections, and nerve blocks, and unfortunately, that hasn’t made things any better. On the contrary, a nerve was damaged during an injection, and that made me ill as well.<\/p>\n

“Now I have to protect my body. The specialists have told me that the only thing that will help my shoulder is a four to six week break. There are matches coming up after this, and there’s a new season ahead, and I have to think about that too.<\/p>\n

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“I can’t go on like this. I have to admit that my shoulder isn’t right. I won’t be able to perform at my best and am forced to withdraw. I hope with all my heart that the lads will now take us to the World Cup.”<\/p>\n

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