Denmark 4-0 North Macedonia Player Ratings: Isaksem Strikes Brace as Denmark Cruise To WC Qualifying Playoff Finals

Denmark secured a dominant victory over North Macedonia in the World Cup qualifier playoff semi-final on 26th March 2026. The first half remained goalless despite Denmark controlling possession and creating multiple chances. The breakthrough came early in the second half when Mikkel Damsgaard opened the scoring. Gustav Isaksen then struck twice in quick succession to put the game beyond reach. Denmark continued to dominate proceedings, and Christian Nørgaard added a late goal to seal an emphatic 4-0 win. North Macedonia struggled to create meaningful chances as Denmark advanced comfortably to the playoff final. Check out Sportsdunia's Denmark vs North Macedonia player ratings from the game.

Key Takeaways

1. Mikkel Damsgaard broke the deadlock early in the second half with a well-taken goal.
2. Gustav Isaksen scored twice in quick succession to put Denmark firmly in control.
3. Christian Nørgaard added a late goal to seal a dominant 4-0 victory.

Denmark Player Ratings vs North Macedonia

Here are Denmark player ratings from the WC qualifier playoff semi-final:

Goalkeeper

Mads Hermansen - 6.5: Had what you'd call a spectator's view for most of the game. North Macedonia barely troubled him, leaving him with little to do. He was tidy with the ball at his feet when called upon, but this was one of the easiest nights he'll have. A clean sheet is a clean sheet.

Defenders

Victor Nelsson - 7.0: A composed and untroubled performance at the back. His passing was crisp, boasting a 95% accuracy, which helped build from the back. He made six clearances, showing he was alert to any potential danger. Overall, a very solid display without needing to get out of second gear.

Joakim Maehle - 7.5: Full of energy down the left flank. Maehle was a constant outlet, getting forward to support the attack and even testing the keeper himself. Defensively, he was solid, winning three of his four duels. From our perspective, his all-action display was key to Denmark's dominance on the wing.

Christian Nørgaard - 8.5: What a colossal performance from the defender. He was a rock at the back, winning almost every aerial duel he contested. To top it off, he got himself on the scoresheet with a well-taken header. He was simply dominant and gave the opposition forwards no room to breathe.

Alexander Bah - 7.0: A very busy and effective performance before his substitution. He contributed defensively with four interceptions and was always looking to get forward. He did commit a few fouls, but his energy and desire were undeniable. A strong showing that set the tone on the right side.

Midfielders

Gustav Isaksen - 9.0: Absolutely sensational. For the 73 minutes he was on the pitch, he was a nightmare for the Macedonian defence. His two goals in the space of a minute completely blew the game open. His dribbling was a joy to watch, and he was a constant threat. A truly explosive, match-winning performance.

Victor Froholdt - 8.0: An incredibly classy performance that might go under the radar. He was so tidy in possession, with a staggering 97% pass accuracy, and provided a beautiful assist. Drew four fouls, proving how tricky he was to handle. A mature and creative display.

Mikkel Damsgaard - 9.5: Our highest-rated player and the clear man of the match. He was the architect of everything good for Denmark. Scored the crucial first goal, provided a sublime assist, and created five chances for his teammates. It was a masterclass in attacking midfield play. He was simply on another level.

Morten Hjulmand - 7.0: The quiet enforcer in midfield. He did the simple things exceptionally well, recycling possession with great efficiency. His eight ball recoveries were crucial in stopping any potential counters. A disciplined and effective performance.

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg - 8.0: The captain led by example, as always. He was a machine in the middle of the park, covering every blade of grass and winning the ball back an incredible 11 times. He controlled the tempo of the game and drove his team forward. A true leader's performance.

Forwards

Rasmus Højlund - 6.5: It was a frustrating evening for the striker. He worked hard and got into good positions but couldn't find his scoring touch. He seemed to be trying a bit too hard at times, losing possession more than he would have liked. The effort was there, but the end product wasn't.

Substitutes

Christian Eriksen - 7.5: Came on and immediately showed his class, delivering a perfect corner for Nørgaard's goal. His quality on the ball was evident from the moment he stepped on the pitch.

Lucas Høgsberg, Kasper Høgh, Nikolas Nartey, Oliver Provstgaard: Came on when the game was already won. They helped see out a comfortable victory.

Manager

B. Riemer - 8.5: His game plan worked to perfection. He kept his team patient in the first half and then unleashed them in the second. His tactical adjustments at halftime were spot on, leading to the complete domination that followed. A masterful coaching performance.

North Macedonia Player Ratings vs Denmark

Let's take a look at North Macedonia player ratings from the match:

Goalkeeper

Stole Dimitrievski - 6.5: It's tough for a keeper who concedes four goals, but the scoreline could have been far worse without him. He made five saves, some of which were excellent stops in the first half to keep his team in it. He was let down by the defence in front of him.

Defenders

Sebastián Herrera - 5.0: A torrid night for the defender. He was constantly exposed by Denmark's fluid attack and was dribbled past four times. While he won a few duels, he was ultimately overwhelmed and struggled to cope with the pressure.

Gjoko Zajkov - 5.5: His nine clearances show just how much defending he had to do. He was constantly putting out fires but struggled to contain the likes of Isaksen and Damsgaard. A battling performance but one that was ultimately fruitless.

Visar Musliu - 4.5: A performance to forget. From our perspective, he was the weakest link in the backline. He looked off the pace, struggled in his duels, and was poor in possession. A very difficult evening for him.

Andrej Stojcevski - 5.0: Like his fellow defenders, he was part of a unit that was completely torn apart. He made several interceptions and clearances but couldn't do much to stop the Danish onslaught. Simply outclassed.

Midfielders

Eljif Elmas - 5.5: Tried to get on the ball and make things happen but was largely anonymous. His frustration was evident with the yellow card he picked up. A disappointing display from a player who is capable of so much more.

Enis Bardhi - 5.0: The captain was unable to rally his troops. He struggled to get a foothold in the game and was wasteful in possession. His set-piece delivery was lacking, and he also ended up in the referee's book. Not his finest hour.

Darko Churlinov - 5.0: Offered very little during his time on the pitch. He was ineffective going forward and struggled to make any impact on the game before being substituted. A quiet and forgettable performance.

Lirim Qamili - 5.5: His 100% pass accuracy is a misleading statistic. With only 12 passes in 64 minutes, it highlights how little he was involved in the game. He was on the periphery and couldn't influence proceedings.

Jani Atanasov - 5.0: Another midfielder who was completely bypassed by the Danish engine room. He made an error that led to a shot and was rightly substituted after 64 minutes of chasing shadows. He just couldn't get into the game.

Forwards

Elmin Rastoder - 5.0: A thankless task. He was completely isolated upfront and starved of service. He lost possession 14 times and won only a fraction of his duels. It's hard to be a striker in a team that's being so thoroughly dominated.

Substitutes

Ljupcho Doriev, Bojan Miovski, Isnik Alimi, Danny Musovski: They were brought on when the game was already over as a contest. There was little they could do to change the tide.

Manager

G. Sedloski - 4.0: His team showed some fight in the first half, but they completely collapsed after conceding the first goal. There seemed to be no Plan B, and his side looked demoralized and disorganized. A tough night at the office for the manager.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's player of the match was Mikkel Damsgaard.

Worst Performer

Visar Musliu had a bad outing.