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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
James Nursey

Joe Rodon to blank Spurs team-mate Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg until after Wales clash

Joe Rodon intends to blank Spurs team-mate Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg until after Wales' clash with Denmark.

Defender Rodon, 23, and Danish midfielder Hojbjerg,25, are club mates at Premier League Tottenham.

But single-minded Rodon doesn't want to let anything distract him from helping Wales into the quarter-finals.

Rodon has played every minute for Wales so far and excelled helping Rob Page's men to second in Group A and into the last 16.

But Rodon knows the knock-out stages will require a different level of focus and ruthlessness ahead of Saturday's clash in Amsterdam against Denmark and Hojbjerg.

He admitted: “We have not spoken.

“I don't plan to.

Spurs' Wales defender Joe Rodon has hit the heights for Wales at Euro 2020 (Alberto Lingria/POOL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

“Him being a team-mate, it is great for us both to be in the last 16.

“But we have said we'll keep each other apart.

“I am sure I will speak to him after the game.

“Now it is all heads on the weekend and it is getting to work.

“I can't wait to get started.”

The Danes have a lot of worldwide support following Christian Eriksen's shock heart attack which saw him resuscitated on the pitch in their opener against Finland.

They also look likely to have some fans at the Johan Cruyff Arena after a Danish diplomat said their fans could avoid quarantine in Holland if they entered and left the country within 12 hours.

But Wales health minister Eluned Morgan said police in Amsterdam would not be "letting Welsh fans into the country."

Joe Rodon cannot get a regular start with Spurs but has excelled at the back for Wales (Action Images via Reuters)

Unfazed Rodon added: “It is a big game and they are a very good team.

“But we will work very hard this week and hopefully go through.

“We have a very tight group and everyone knows the job expected of them.

“It is frustrating we can't have our own fans.

“But whatever fans they let in the stadium , we are just happy to get some atmosphere back.”

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