Former Celtic defender Marc Rieper has expressed his surprise at Danish national team manager Kasper Hjulmand’s decision to exclude Matt O’Riley from Denmark’s EURO 2024 squad.
Denmark’s Matt O’Riley in action with Northern Ireland’s Isaac Price Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
O’Riley, who has had a standout season with Celtic, did not make the 26-man squad despite his significant contributions to the team’s success this year.
Rieper, whose own career at Celtic was marked by considerable success before it was cut short by injury, said that O’Riley’s omission has been a contentious topic among fans and pundits in Denmark. He pointed out that O’Riley’s performance this season, which included numerous goals, assists, and personal accolades, made his exclusion particularly puzzling.
According to Rieper, loyalty to more established players seems to have influenced Hjulmand’s decision.
Quoted by the Daily Record he said, “Matt’s exclusion has been a surprise and a big talking point amongst most football fans in Denmark. When you assess the season he’s had at Celtic and look at the trophies he’s helped the team to win, it’s a huge surprise for him not to be selected.
“Drill down further on his impact, the goals he’s scored, the number of assists he’s had and also the personal awards and nominations he’s won then it makes it even more puzzling. He couldn’t have done much more to push his claim to be in Germany as he’s had a pretty amazing season at Celtic.
“He’s giving this squad another chance to do something at a major finals and that’s obviously his take on it. He believes the group he’s chosen can do a good job. What’s amazing to me is that in a squad of 26 players there isn’t room for Matt but it’s also highly surprising to me that a few of the other younger players aren’t included either.
“I’d have loved to see Matt there and he would have benefited so much from watching and learning from the more experienced players.”
O’Riley faces a summer bound to be filled with transfer interest from top clubs. Celtic have already knocked back Atletico Mardid’s interest in the January window, but that will likely just have been the start of it.
