(Translation) Can Hjulmand get angry? The funniest on the team? Your secret talent? Live from the World Cup-camp.
Translation of the livestream-interview with Yussuf Poulsen and Christian Nørgaard. There are recaps in English of a few parts, but most of it is properly translated.
00:00-00:29: Starts with a welcome and explanation of where they are and what they’re doing.
Interviewer: Yus and Nør how are you? Are you excited? Is it bubbling inside of you? You were among those last to be called up.
Christian Nørgaard: Yeah we got called up at the last moment, but yes, we’re happy to be here. We went to see the training ground today and stuff like that, so it’s starting to get real, right?
Yussuf Yurary Poulsen: Definitely. Then we’re honoured to be the firsts to take part in this.
I: We’ve thought a lot about who it was going to be.
CN: It shows that what we’ve previously done has been really good.
I: Yeah, or you get another shot at it.
CN: There’s probably a bigger chance of that being the case.
I: Narh, you’ve been good before as well.
01:02-02:02: Explanation of the concept and how there might be some hotel staff in the background every now and then. Then they talk about having to show their credentials a lot.
I: “Can you handle the heat?”
YP: No, not in the hotel room. [Swear word], it’s cold.
CN: Yeah, they’re cold as ice. You can just turn off the air-condition.
YP: Yes, I know that, but just when I came in-
CN: I didn’t know if you weren’t sharp technically.
I: You just haven’t figured out where yet - that’s what’s wrong.
YP: No. No, no. It isn’t cold anymore. It was only when I came into the room. It started on 16 degrees. It was very cold. And the water in the shower: Mine takes 5-7 minutes for it to get warm.
CN: Yeah, it actually takes a bit of time.
YP: So we actually have some problems with keeping warm.
CN: But other than that, outside it isn’t a problem. Wow, it’s hot. I’m really, like, surprised about how hot it is.
I: How much fluid do you think you’ve lost today - in training?
YP: We trained late today, right?
CN: Yes, it wasn’t so bad when we trained. But when we were out for a walk in the middle of the day it was hot.
YP: It was heiß.
I: Maybe they’ve thought ‘they’re from the North’ and turned down the temperature all the way and made the water ice-cold, because it’s how we’d like it.
CN & YP: That may be.
I: “What is the wildest thing about being called up for the national team for the World Cup?”
03:09-03:23: A little back and forward with Yussuf giving quick answers about expecting the experience they’ll get to be nice and the wildest thing about being on the team.
CN: I talked to Josefine, my wife, the day before we met up, about how it for me is also about it being wild to be among the 26 best players in the country. It was a moment of pride. To put it into words was special and to get the final call-up. It’s one of the biggest moments. I also felt like that when I was called up for the Euros a year and a half ago. (To Yussuf) You’ve also tried it before for the World Cup in Russia. Representing your country at these tournaments - it just doesn’t get much bigger. So it’s important to remind yourself of it sometimes.
I: Do you get humbled by what’s in front of you and what you represent?
YP: Absolutely. Absolutely.
I: “For how long have you known each other?”
YP: Since… 2009 would be my guess.
CN: Yes. I have no idea, but it sounds about right.
I: What is your first meeting? It doesn’t have to be the exact one, but what is the first you remember of each other?
YP: It’s definitely the helmet-hair he walked around with back then. We called him the LEGO-hat, because it was planted on. Actually, it’s more Playmobil.
CN: I’ve hidden it today.
YP: It’s also gotten a lot thinner since then.
CN: Yeah, I’d also say that. It’s been bigger than it is now, right? I used to get teased a lot on U-19, when we were U-17 boys, by Nis Lundgaard and Timo and those guys, that I was Playmobil and LEGO-hat and so on. But it was fun… for them. Yeah, but I remember Yus as… you had participated in some trial, I think. You came directly from the S-train in your tracksuit that you still wear to this day.
YP: Actually probably the exact same.
CN: Exactly. Then you signed with Lyngby and then we got on very well with each other.
YP: Signed and signed. I didn’t get a contract at first.
CN: No, well, you got a bus pass, right? And pasta salad in the cafeteria afterwards.
YP: Precisely. It came later on.
05:43-06:35: They get asked about whether they would return to Lyngby Boldklub in the future. Yussuf doesn’t plan on returning to Denmark to play football, but if his plans change, he won’t rule out Lyngby. Nørgaard talks about how he had his proper break-through with Brøndby, so he would probably return to Brøndby before Lyngby. Both praise Lyngby for being a good place though.
I: “Who on the national team is in control of the music in the locker room?”
YP: Who’s in control now?
CN: I want to say Rasmus Nissen, NK.
YP: He’s had some trial periods at least.
CN: There have been some mixed reviews of it. Smich is very unhappy.
YP: He’s been in and out a lot. Previously, we had Zanka. Then there have been times where Zanka hasn’t been here. Then NK has been given permission to be guest-DJ with both good and bad outcome.
CN: I think it’s very good.
I: What is he playing?
CN: It’s very mixed. It can be some old Danish hits, it can be more pop and some hip hop and something old.
YP: I think he went with something alternative at some point. That made some people snap.
CN: Yes, Smich - Schmeichel. He shouts loudly whenever it’s not football songs or old Danish music. He doesn’t like it if Drake or Akon or something like that is played.
I: Nissen - can’t it be something like Dutch tramp sometimes?
YP: I think he feels so honoured to be DJ that he simply doesn’t dare to go down that road.
CN: It’s been pretty safe and then with a twist of Nissen.
I: “Can Kasper Hjulmand give a good scolding or is it just fun and games?”
YP: He can. Yes. Certainly.
CN: It’s definitely not all fun and games all the time at least. It’s rarely fun and games in that regard. When it comes to football, it’s serious.
YP: Outside of the pitch it can be fun and games as long as we can turn on the brain and the intensity when we stand on the pitch. But yes, he can get mad. There hasn’t been any reason to get mad. We’ve been pretty good lately.
CN: No, I don’t feel like that either. I don’t feel like he completely freaks out either.
YP: Have you’ve been late for a meeting yet?
CN: No.
YP: No.
CN: But you have?
YP: (Laughs)
CN: Yeah, okay.
YP: Yes.
I: Should we elaborate on that?
YP: No.
CN: But he kept it between the two of you, I think. It wasn’t in front of the group as far as I remember. But yes, that’s right, we have to be there on time. That’s important.
YP: It is. Definitely.
09:18-11:41: They get asked who they wish to meet in the semi-final. They think about it for a bit and can’t really come up with an answer until Yussuf mentions England (for obvious reasons). Then Yussuf talks about how, when he got back to the club after his post-Euros vacation, they had a meeting with the refs in the league. The Sterling-situation was shown and the refereeing decision declared a mistake and the match should’ve been stopped because of the two balls on the pitch. Safe to say he wasn’t thrilled about having to relive that.
I: “Who on the team is the best at FIFA?”
11:52-12:03: They talk about how they don’t really have time for playing anymore.
CN: I would imagine someone like Jesper Lindstrøm. I was talking to him today. He was very excited about his new card because he was chosen for Team of the Week for the second time, I think, in a few months. So he seems like someone who’s very into it and has his POGA box with him everywhere. I’d probably put him as one of the better ones.
12:37-14:37: They get asked and talk about their first matches with the national team. Yussuf talks about his first match being and interesting and special experience because he was pretty young, got taken out when they were behind after the first half, and it took place in Albania. Then he played in Parken against Portugal a few days later, so all in all it was a fantastic experience. Nørgaard mentions how the first time he was with the team was when they went on a strike, so a bunch of people ended up getting their debuts before him - and then he was on the bench for the next match. His actual debut against England is one of the highlights of his career though.
I: “What do you spend your time on when you’re in the hotel?”
CN: I’ve just gotten beaten by Yus in a game of darts.
I: What kind of dart are you playing?
YP: Killer. I don’t know if it’s an official game.
CN: Normal dart is too difficult.
YP: We’re simply not good enough for that.
CN: So we need to come up with other ways of playing. But it didn’t go well today, so we’ll have to change that. What else, Yus? You play a lot of cards.
YP: I play a bit of cards, yes, with those who want to play. Besides that, making sure the body is alright. We also have a gym in the hotel and we have good opportunities to take care of our bodies and make sure they’re good, fit, and where they need to be when it starts.
I: Is there a card club in the team?
YP: Card club? Yeah, it’s disintegrating a bit. There used to be one. Then there have been some changes to it and some are in sometimes, out other times. I know some of the youngsters are playing cards, but they don’t have the guts to play with us older guys.
CN: No, I get that. I was in for a short moment - went out quickly again. That was too high of a level.
I: What are you playing?
CN: It was Mousel back when I was there.
YP: Back then it was Mousel. We’re done with that, it’s over. We’re on Whist at the moment.
I: Is there someone who’s (implies ‘better than others’ with his hands)?
YP: Yeah (points to himself).
I: Is it you?
CN: Arh, Rønnow.
YP: No.
CN: What? You’re better than Rønnow?
YP: (Nods).
CN: Uh wow. I need to go see the reaction to this interview afterwards.
16:26-16:40: They talk about filming them play or looking at the scoresheet.
16:40-18:39: They get asked what dishes they are looking forwards to Per (their chef) making. Yussuf mentions the risotto and Nørgaard agrees. Then Nørgaard mentions ‘brunsviger’ (a cake) and Yussuf agrees, but they’re not sure if Per is the one usually baking it. Yussuf talks about how it’s served whenever someone finds some, even the smallest, reason for celebration. They don’t really have any traditional post-victory dishes, but they often get beef with Bearnaise sauce and fries after matches.
I: “Which retired national team player would you like to have tried playing with and why?”
YP: Peter Schmeichel. I’d want to see if he’s like Kasper on the pitch. If he’d have the same outbursts that Kasper has.
I: What is your guess?
YP: Yes.
I: I think so too.
YP: I’d like to see it. If the old players have the same stories about Peter on the pitch as we have with Kasper now.
CN: I think so. Even if it’s difficult to imagine, I almost think Peter was worse, don’t you think?
YP: Good question.
I: Do you have one, Nør?
CN: Yeah, but he’d probably play my position - Gravesen, right?
YP: So you want to sit on the bench and watch him?
CN: Then you’d find a place maybe on an 8 or he could go up there. Then I could just see myself pee my pants when he looked at me if I had made a bad pass or something like that. He seems like someone - also someone who could have an outburst or two and demand something from his teammates. That could be fun.
20:08-21:05: They talk about their ambitions for the World Cup. Yussuf believes they can win and that they have to believe in that. Nørgaard adds that it’s important to focus on one match at a time.
I: “Who out of all of you has the best sense of humour?”
CN: I think there are a couple of guys in different ways.
YP: Absolutely. It’s a shame Allan Poulsen isn’t here anymore cause then I would’ve definitely said Allan.
CN: I didn’t get to have much to do with him, but I remember him having a sassy comment.
YP: He had many, many, many good ones.
CN: I think Cornelius is really funny. No one can tell a story like him.
YP: Correct.
CN: I also think Rønnow has a nice, sarcastic humour. Del, he makes a lot too… yeah, there are a few who could take the prize
YP: I’d probably also say Corner. But that’s also because he has so many stories.
I: So involuntarily, he ends up in situations at times…
YP: That the rest of us don’t, yes.
CN: Yes, exactly.
YP: Which causes the story to have a funny ending or plot.
CN: He’s [swear word] funny.
I: Between the two of you, who has the best sense of humour?
CN: I don’t know.
YP: Christian is not particularly funny.
I: We’ll close that there.
CN: I just have a very dry sense of humour.
I: No, you are funny.
22:45-23:03: They agree on having a similar humour and that they’ve probably influenced each other over the years.
23:03-24:55: They get asked if Kasper Hjulmand and assistant coach Morten Wieghorst ever show their skills on the pitch. Wieghorst does sometimes. They haven’t really seen Hjulmand’s, but, as they say, that’s understandable if it’s due to his Archilles tendon rupture. Then they talk about how some of the staff went for a run that morning.
I: “Do you have a secret talent that not many know of?”
25:06-26:31: Yussuf’s talent is diabolo. He performed with it as a kid and even though it doesn’t happen often, he’ll pick it up whenever he finds himself near one. Nørgaard doesn’t really have a secret talent. He loves everything with a ball. Then he mentions table tennis as an example.
CN: We actually had a tournament in the club last season, where Chrille, who’s allegedly the best player on the team, participated as well. I took the victory. So table tennis is my game.
I: Is that a tournament where you have knock-out games and then a final?
CN: Groups and then knock-out games until a final, yes.
I: Who do you beat on the way?
CN: Well, I don’t beat Chrille, which is a bit of a shame. He was without a doubt better than me when we were warming up, so I was actually pretty happy about that. But I beat Lössl, among others. Then I beat Pinnock in the final. It was actually very cool. We went to a table tennis club and there were a bunch of table and intensity. It was actually a lot of fun.
I: Are you a defensive player or?
CN: I’m very defensive. And I have an offensive backhand, when it’s warmed up. It usually takes about twenty to thirty minutes. But when it’s warmed up, then it’s, yeah-
I: Then it’s good.
CN: Yes. I got a lot of praise for it from the people working there, actually. They mentioned Roger Federer and things like that.
27:40-28:05: Chaos ensues after that comment. The others tease him a bit while Nørgaard emphasises that it was the people working there that mentioned Federer, not himself.
28:05-28:32: Goodbye and mention of other players being interviewed live in the upcoming days and between matches.
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