Player Profile: Martin Braithwaite

image: @braithwaiteofficial Instagram

Denmark's impressive progress over the last few years have them ranked as high as 10th in the world. Their recent results include home and away wins against World Cup holders France who also happen to be in the same group as them. Australia and Tunisia are also in the same group. These recent highs have come thanks to a core group of players. Among them is Espanyol's Martin Braithwaite. The forward is 31 and has played 62 times for Denmark.

Playing style: Braithwaite is versatile in nature and capable of playing through the middle or on either wing. His best quality is perhaps running the channels. This gives an opportunity to Denmark's more creative players to provide either through balls or balls over the top. When playing wide, Braithwaite can also stretch the game and isolate the opposition fullback before taking him on and putting in crosses. This is probably his best position given his finishing isn't the greatest.

National team record - In his 62 appearances, Braithwaite has scored 10 goals for the national time. In Euro 2020, he was unlucky to not score more than 1, given he was quite influential and played well. Braithwaite missed a lot of games in the World Cup qualifiers through injury. He made his international debut in 2013 against Georgia and scored his first goal in the same year against Poland.

Club form - This summer Braithwaite change clubs, ending a tumultuous spell at Barcelona and moving to cross city rivals Espanyol. There he has started very well. He has scored 3 and assisted 1 in 9 league games, including a particularly important late winner against Athletic Club in the first game of the season.

Braithwaite will have to contend for a starting berth with others going into the World Cup but he has been in good form and his experience will be important for Denmark to go deep into the World Cup.