Defender heading back to Crystal Palace after Denmark fall at first World Cup hurdle

Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen has been knocked out of the World Cup following Denmark’s 1-0 defeat to Australia, writes Edmund Brack.

The Danes finished bottom of Group D and picked up just one point from the group stages in a 0-0 draw with Tunisia.

Former Fulham defender Andersen, who joined Palace last summer from Lyon, played every minute of Denmark’s three group fixtures. France and Australia progressed through to the knockout rounds of the competition.

The Eagles announced in midweek that they would be travelling to Turkey for a winter-break tour, playing Serie A table-toppers Napoli and Turkish side Trabzonspor.
Palace begin their mid-season pre-season this Saturday against Brazilian side Botafogo.

Jordan Ayew is the only Palace left in the World Cup, with Ghana second in Group H and two points clear of Uruguay and South Korea heading into their final match.

Ghana play Uruguay tomorrow afternoon.

Greenwich-born Crystal Palace attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze says that South London is up there with “the top two or three footballing hotbeds in the world.”

Speaking to the PA news agency, former QPR man Eze added: “The amount of talent in South London is insane. The amount of people that I know that are amazing footballers but haven’t been able to make it for whatever reason, it’s crazy.”

Eze, along with Crystal Palace first-team members Marc Guehi, Malcolm Ebiowei, Wilfried Zaha and Nathaniel Clyne, all grew up in the South London area.

Eze said: “Palace are always looking for players in local areas, you can see players from local areas who are playing in the first team and who are not just playing but doing well. Palace is the perfect spot for that.”