MILAN | The spotlight will be on an unequal duel that would never have attracted attention without the current global geopolitical context. On Valentine’s Day evening, the Danes will meet the Americans at the Santagiulia arena in Milan.
It has now been five weeks since President Donald Trump caused a commotion by threatening to annex Greenland, this gigantic Arctic island of 57,000 inhabitants which has officially been an autonomous territory of Denmark since 1953.
His ideas have since chilled ties between the White House and the European Union, whose members have lined up behind Denmark. Faced with this rallying for the protection of the territory, Trump then threatened countries to impose additional customs tariffs.
Even in the locker room
It is in this context that the two teams will face each other on the Olympic ice rink in Milan for a sporting head-to-head with a political flavor. The evening of the love festival as a bonus. Fate ironically decided this way during the preliminary round.
According to a report by American colleague Mark Lazarus, from The Athletics website, the geopolitical issues of this match crept into the Danish locker room. If they attract attention in their country, they raise questions within the walls of their headquarters, said former Canadian Lars Eller.
Although the Danes are focused on the immense challenge before them on the ice, having not defeated the Americans in international hockey in 16 years, they are aware of the political and international tensions.
Memories of the Confrontation
Just a year ago, Canada was plunged into the same context during the 4 Nations Showdown, played in Montreal and Boston.
Freshly returned to power, Donald Trump hit Canada with heavy customs tariffs, like a hundred other countries around the world. Added to this were his repeated allusions to making Canada the 51e American state.
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We then remember the excesses. THE Star-Spangled Banner had been booed in the arenas and on the ice, the powder keg had exploded twice rather than once between the two teams. The first 10 seconds of the final were punctuated by three fights.
Photo Martin Chevalier
However, the scenario will be different in Milan, as fighting is prohibited under the rules of the International Ice Hockey Federation. The Danes will have to find a strategy other than excessive robustness to defeat the powerful Americans, who all play in the NHL.
Lars and his gang
In this duel worthy of David against Goliath, Eller is flanked by Nikolaj Ehlers, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Frederik Andersen as the sole color wearer of an NHL team.
Since 2003, Denmark has won two of 10 international duels. His last victory dates back to May 2010 while his most recent defeat dates back to last May.
This largely deficit record could alone explain the lack of love for the American enemy. Donald Trump’s threats over the fate of Greenland in mid-January brought this match, which would once have gone unnoticed, to the Olympic spotlight.
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date: 2026-02-14 01:36:00