Things could hardly be going better for West Ham United goalkeeper Mads Hermansen right now. A starting spot for Denmark at the 2026 World Cup is now up for grabs, and there is no one better than Gianluigi Buffon to discuss such a scenario on the eve of a tournament.
Hermansen has three clean sheets in five Premier League games since returning to Nuno Espirito Santo’s starting XI last month.
And it appears that unexpected but very welcome West Ham United revival at club level will stand Mads Hermansen in very good stead on the international stage as well.
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Has he won you over? Or are there still doubts?
Mads Hermansen could start for Denmark after West Ham United revival
Brian Riemer, Denmark’s head coach, is preparing for a World Cup qualifier semi-final against North Macedonia on March 26th. Speaking to BT, his comments will be music to the ears of Hermansen, hoping to force his way in ahead of a now-39-year-old Kasper Schmeichel.
“Kasper has – if you ignore his father [the legendary Peter Schmeichel] – played the most international matches for Denmark. But Kasper is 39 years old, and of course there should be a public debate about a 39-year-old,” says Riemer.
“Kasper Schmeichel represents Denmark [only] if he’s the best. And, of course, it’s me who decides.
“He will never play an international match under me [just] because he has played 120 international matches, because he has been there for 10 years, or because he saved a penalty once. I can say that, 100 per cent.”
Riemer confirms that the man he picks to start in goal for Denmark in that North Macedonia clash will be ‘the best goalkeeper’ currently at his disposal. On current form, that is undoubtedly Hermansen.
The critical Celtic supporters got their wish when veteran manager Martin O’Neill removed Schmeichel from the firing line recently following a series of high-profile blunders.
In the meantime, south of the border, £20 million summer signing from Leicester City produced his most stand-out performance in a West Ham shirt during Wednesday’s 1-0 win at Craven Cottage. Fulham’s Josh King was denied an equaliser by a ‘brilliant’ late save.
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Gianluigi Buffon will know how Hermansen is feeling if he’s picked
Interestingly, Hermansen has not earned a single senior cap for Denmark, despite being a regular in the squad since earning a call-up back in 2023. Should he be parachuted in ahead of Schmeichel in a few weeks’ time, he will make his national team debut on the most high-pressure of occasions.
One of the most iconic goalkeepers in football history knows how it feels to be thrown in at the deep end.
But, in an interview with Il Messaggero this week, Italy legend Gianluigi Buffon made some comments which should ease any concerns Riemer may have about replacing Schmeichel with Hermansen at such a late stage in their qualifying campaign.
“No one can talk about this more than I. My first appearance for Italy [against Russia in 1997] was in a World Cup play-off,” Buffon recalls. “But if you asked me now: ‘Did you realise how important the match was?’ I didn’t know a damn thing!
“I walked onto the field in the snow, and I was just happy to play. I told myself, ‘go out there and enjoy it’.
“Regardless of age, the national team is for those who deserve it.”
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