Denmark to miss star Harder from start against Sweden in World Cup qualifier

Denmark's national women's football team will face Sweden in a critical World Cup qualifier on Friday evening without their captain and star striker, Pernille Harder. The 33-year-old Bayern Munich forward has been battling a muscle injury and lost her race against time to be fit for the match, according to the starting lineup announced by the Danish Football Union (DBU).

Despite not starting, Harder is listed on the Danish bench, leaving open the possibility of her entering the game later. Her absence from the starting lineup is a significant blow, as coach Jakob Michelsen emphasized her importance. "It would be a huge boost for us if our best player and captain, both on and off the field, could play," Michelsen stated Thursday, especially noting recent squad withdrawals.

Harder has been a dominant force in Danish women's football for years, boasting an impressive record of 83 goals in 171 international matches. The rest of the current squad has collectively scored 64 goals for Denmark, underscoring Harder's prolific contribution.

A victory against Sweden, whom Denmark previously defeated 2-1 in April, could secure a World Cup ticket, provided Italy also fails to win against Serbia. A draw against Sweden would still keep Denmark's fate in their own hands for their final group match against Serbia. If Denmark fails to top the group, they will enter playoffs in the autumn for a chance to qualify.

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It would be a huge boost for us if our best player and captain, both on and off the field, could play.