In the 120 minutes, Hojlund proved a constant threat, but the Czech goalkeeper Matej Kovar saved all three of his attempts and added a penalty save in the shootout. Kovar’s performance, alongside his teammates’ resilience, ultimately guided the Czech Republic to World Cup qualification.
For Denmark, injuries also complicated the build-up, with Patrick Dorgu sidelined and Christian Eriksen facing a potential end to his World Cup hopes this cycle. Hojlund, who had spoken of this as the biggest match of his career, ends the campaign having scored five goals in qualifying but unable to secure a finals appearance.
The result means the Czech Republic advance to the World Cup, while Denmark will look ahead to the next qualifying cycle and attempts to rebuild for 2030. Hojlund’s strong form in the campaign highlights his continued development, though this setback marks a sour note in his pursuit of a first World Cup tournament.
