Diogo Costa has revealed how he knew he would deny Manchester United star Christian Eriksen from the penalty spot in Portugal’s defeat to Denmark.
Christian Eriksen is one of the many Manchester United players who are currently away from Old Trafford on international duty in the March break.
Ruben Amorim’s men signed off their final match in March in winning ways after United’s 3-0 result against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium last Sunday.
Eriksen, Rasmus Hojlund and Patrick Dorgu were all named in the Denmark squad for their country’s crucial Nations League campaign in the international break.
Denmark hosted Portugal at the Parken in Copenhagen on Thursday evening and Brian Riemer’s men took control of the two-leg Nations League quarter-final contest.
Rasmus Hojlund was the difference-maker on the night after the United star climbed off the bench in the second half and beat Diogo Costa to break the deadlock.
Denmark held on to their lead against Roberto Martinez’s men until the full-time whistle and will now take a 1-0 aggregate scoreline to Portugal for the return leg.
READ MORE: Man Utd fans all saying same thing about Rasmus Hojlund after Denmark winner vs Portugal, ‘insane’ moment stands out
Photo by Mateusz Slodkowski/Getty Images
Photo by Mateusz Slodkowski/Getty Images
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What Diogo Costa saw from Man Utd star Christian Eriksen during the penalty kick in Denmark vs Portugal
Denmark were awarded a penalty in the first half at the Parken and Christian Eriksen stepped up for the spot-kick against Portugal on Thursday evening.
The 33-year-old Manchester United midfielder was unable to convert his penalty and Diogo Costa kept Portugal in the contest by denying Eriksen from the spot-kick.
Speaking after the first-leg Nations League quarter-final tie, Costa claimed the “look” in Eriksen’s eyes told him which direction he would be placing his penalty.
“We study the penalty takers, I never go with a decided side, it’s very much about the goalkeeper’s scent and that’s how it went,” he said, as per A Bola.
“The look in his eyes made me feel like he was going to shoot to my right and I believed it. But it was a bad day for the national team.
“We played more [of] the football they wanted than the football we wanted, and the game went badly. We just have to train and prepare better for the next game.”
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Denmark star Christian Eriksen breaks silence on Man Utd future with clear message
Eriksen is out of contract with United in the summer and the Denmark international is tipped to leave Old Trafford at the end of the season.
The former Tottenham and Inter Milan ace has suggested that he expects he will leave United after not hearing anything from the Red Devils over a new deal.
“I haven’t heard anything from the club, and therefore I assume that the collaboration will stop – that’s how I interpret it,” he said, as per BBC Sport.
“I am prepared to find something new. I am fine with that. Where it will be, I haven’t decided yet.”
Portugal will host Denmark for the return leg in the Nations League quarter-finals on Sunday evening at Sporting CP’s Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon.