The playmaker is busy preparing for Tuesday’s opening match against Tunisia and he is confident the Danes can qualify from a group that also contains Australia and France (who have Christian's club team-mate Raphael Varane among their ranks).

This will be Eriksen’s third World Cup after he became the youngest player at the 2010 tournament in South Africa, before appearing again in the 2018 edition in Russia. As a result, it is fair to say he understands the magnitude of the occasion.

During an interview with club reporter Mikey Partington on the eve of Qatar ’22, Eriksen looked back on his World Cup experiences and in particular travelling to South Africa as an 18-year-old sensation. 

“I have a lot of memories, it was a busy year for me, that,” he said. “Getting my debut in January that year and then playing at the World Cup six months later for my country was very special. 

“Obviously, I went as a very young kid, hadn’t played that many games – I felt I should have played more [laughs] – but I got more minutes and was on the big stage. 

“But unfortunately, we went home early so this one wasn’t good for us as a country but, for me, being there, getting my debut for the national team, a World Cup debut, it was something special.”

Eriksen says it will be an honour to represent Denmark on the biggest stage once again.

“It’ll be very special,” Christian told us. “The World Cup is only once in a while, so you know how much you have to work to get there. 

“Obviously, I was outside of football and the country did qualify without me which was very nice and now to be part of it and help the country at the World Cup is very special. 

“We did well last time and now it’s up to us to see how far we go this time.”

WORLD CUP MEMORIES

Read how Christian responded to our topical World Cup questions… 

Christian, can you tell us the best memories from your first World Cup as a child?
“I would almost say the first memory that pops up is Ronaldinho scoring against England [in 2002], I think that’s the first memory I have from a World Cup.”

Who is the ultimate World Cup icon from Denmark and what does he mean to you?
“You probably know! [laughs] I think with the World Cup, of course, it is Michael Laudrup. But not only from the World Cup, just in general, I think a lot of Danish players and I know a lot of Danish people have looked up to Michael Laudrup because of how he was. So, yeah, I’d probably say him.”

In your opinion, which is the greatest goal in World Cup history? Or do you have a favourite?
“The Ronaldinho one [against England] wasn’t too bad – whether he meant it or not I don’t know! I don’t know, a favourite in a World Cup… there’s a lot of nice goals in the World Cup and it’s difficult to remember one. I do remember one in one of the opening games in South Africa, where South Africa scores a worldie goal.”

Was that Siphiwe Tshabalala against Mexico? 
“Yeah with the Jabulani ball, the good one, so yeah I remember that, also because I was there. So it was special at the same time.”

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