It worked for him in fairness.
If Kasper Schmeichel was trying to psyche himself up for the penalty that was about to be taken on him, it worked. If Kasper Schmeichel was trying to put Luke Modric off the spot kick he stood over, it worked.
If Kasper Schmechel’s reaction to the penalty awarded to Croatia in the 117th minute of their Round of 16 clash was an honest one, then the Danish keeper is either blind or deluded.
To be honest, we’re fairly sure he’s neither. It’s more likely that the Leicester net-minder was just so wound up for this game that a logical outlook was impossible on the whole scenario.
He was looking at it all through red and white tinted glasses and he’d be fighting tooth and nail even if he didn’t have a leg to stand on. He’d try to pull the wool over the referee’s eyes and Jesus you can’t blame him for that. Every one of us would to the same, but it just goes to show what sport can do to us all.
Concede that penalty and his country’s hopes of progressing in this World Cup were dust. It’s a tactic we’re used to seeing from the likes of Sergio Ramos in modern day football.
Because when Crotatian attacker Rebic beared down on Schmeichel’s goals, rounded the keeper and stared into an empty net. It looked for all the world as if Denmark were staring elimination in the face.
But then, the last Denmark man back Joergenson committed the most cynical foul you’re likely to ever see. He blatantly took Rebic out of it in what was the most clear-cut penalty and indeed the most clear-cut red card of all time.
Schmeichel obviously saw that. Sure he had a birds’ eye view of it.
His reaction, in that case, was inexplicable.
PENALTY to Croatia… (spoiler – Modric misses)#CRO 1-1 #DEN #RTEsoccer #WorldCuphttps://t.co/5rbws7Qujj pic.twitter.com/R359fJDg1V
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) July 1, 2018
It all worked out for him there though, as he went onto save Modric’s penalty despite leaving his line early.
SAVED (as advertised)#RTEsoccer #worldcup https://t.co/5rbws7Qujj pic.twitter.com/lrh3q2Es76
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) July 1, 2018
In the end, justice was served as Croatia went onto win by a scrappy 3-2 penalty shootout victory.
Both keepers impressed in this and Schmeichel should hold his high after saving two more spot kicks in the shootout.
