Christian Norgaard has been supported on social media by Arsenal colleagues and Denmark teammates after sharing an emotional statement
Arsenal midfielder Christian Norgaard has received support from teammates at club and country after announcing his international retirement. Norgaard has 41 caps and two goals for his country, but has decided to bow out at the age of 32.
It comes after Denmark failed to qualify for this summer’s World Cup following a penalty shoot-out defeat against the Czech Republic in a play-off. It was the first time they had failed to qualify for a major tournament since missing Euro 2016.
And it has prompted Gunners midfielder Norgaard to step away from international football. Announcing the news on Instagram, he said, “I have decided to quit the national team.
“On the one hand, it has been a difficult decision, because there’s practically nothing I love more than checking in with teammates and staff at Marienlyst. And there’s practically nothing I love more than playing games in red and white in a sold-out, buzzing with anticipation Parken.
FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page
“At the same time I have felt a lot of confidence from Brian Riemer, and a personal highlight for me was the victory over Portugal in 2025 on exactly one of the magical evenings in Parken – there I took the leadership role in midfield, which I love to play out in.
“On the other hand, it has been an easy decision because I would like to have more time with my family, and with the missed World Cup qualification it also feels natural now to make room for the talents that fortunately Denmark is still rich in.
“It was Åge Hareide who was the first to select me for the right national team, but even though he never gave me playing time, I experienced how he created room for cultural bearers like Simon, Schmeichel, Christian and Delaney to develop the unity, which the team in my belief lives on in day.
“My official debut took place in 2020, Kasper Hjulmand was the coach, and under him we played the best football and created the biggest results in my time with the team – and maybe more recently in the history of the Danish national team. Summer 2021 will always stand as the most beautiful chapter in my football career.
Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package
Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
“Now it’s finished. I’m looking forward to backing up as a fan, but no longer as a part of the squad. Thank you players, staff and fans for helping make a boy’s dream come true.”
Norgaard has received messages of support from Arsenal team-mate Noni Madueke, as well as former Denmark team-mate Christian Eriksen and Ivan Toney and Mads Roerslev, whom he played with at Brentford.
The former Brentford captain joined Mikel Arteta’s side last summer in a £10million deal and has made 19 appearances across all competitions as a back-up midfielder.
He has not started a single Premier League match, with Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi the first-choice picks in his position.
