An increasingly bitter row is growing around the EURO 2024 qualifier between San Marino and Denmark, with Rasmus Hojlund and Simon Kjaer claiming players were actively trying to injure them.
San Marino had taken a shock lead with their first competitive goal in two years, only to be eventually beaten 2-1 with former Atalanta striker Hojlund and Yussuf Poulsen on target.
There were several rough tackles during the match, but afterwards Manchester United striker Hojlund accused San Marino players of “trying to injure me” with “unacceptable” challenges in an Instagram post.
In an interview, he also said that being able to understand Italian after a year with Atalanta, he could “hear them saying they had the idea to crush me.”
Milan defender Kjaer also said he understood the San Marino players talking, “they just told him that they are going after Hojlund’s knees. I told the ref and asked if he wants me to translate it for him.”
San Marino player Roberto Di Maio hit back with his own Instagram post, which was captured before he changed the account to Private.
“I read today that Mr 80m is complaining because he received some unpleasant treatment from the San Marino defenders…
“Well, dear Rasmus Hojlund, in today’s football where physical contact has disappeared, you can probably afford to make fun of people with ugly and repeated gestures against us minnows, or simulate at every opportunity hoping that VAR will give you a penalty…
“I would’ve liked to have seen you 15 years ago, when only real men played football!!! You were a horrible disappointment, Hojlund. Good luck!”
Di Maio was also interviewed by Cronache di Spogliatoio and gave an even longer version of events in that match.
“I tell Hojlund and Kjaer this: you came to San Marino thinking it was going to be a walk in the park. After the second goal, Hojlund put a finger to his lips telling us to stay quiet. Most of the lads marking him work eight hours a day.
“They thought it was going to be so easy, but instead they faced a team that was well-equipped, caused them problems and threatened to take a point.
“I made a harsh tackle to make sure they knew I was there, because someone was taking the mickey.”
Di Maio, who is 41 years old, reiterated that the Danish players were simply expecting a walkover in San Marino.
“I saw players of Tottenham and Manchester United who were frightened by San Marino. What did they think, that we were just going to get out of the way so Hojlund could win top scorer of qualifying?
“Hojlund is 20 years younger than me and I wish him all the best. If, like Kjaer said, someone threatened to hurt the Danes, then I apologise on behalf of my teammates, because that is not our mentality.”