Christian Norgaard has confirmed his retirement from international football, bringing the curtain down on a 41-cap career with Denmark.
The Arsenal midfielder announced the decision writing a classy farewell on Instagram, citing a desire to spend more time with his family and acknowledging that Denmark missing out on the World Cup felt like a natural endpoint.
“I have decided to retire from the national team,” Norgaard wrote. “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.
“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 talented and exciting talents, fortunately Denmark is still rich in.”
All things considered, tell us if Christian Norgaard has been a hit or a miss.
Why Christian Norgaard retired from international football
The 32-year-old had been hopeful of ending his international career at the World Cup, but it wasn’t to be.
Denmark eased past North Macedonia in the play-off semi-final before drawing 2-2 with the Czech Republic after extra time, only to lose 3-1 on penalties.
Norgaard never even got the chance to step up in the shootout, with it being all over after four kicks each.
He had hinted at the time that the defeat had prompted some serious reflection.
“I’ve been thinking about it for some time. I had hoped to be at the World Cup. It’s a bitter feeling right now,” he said in the immediate aftermath.
His decision has now been made official.
What Christian Norgaard’s international retirement means for his Arsenal future
At club level, Christian Norgaard has played a squad role for Mikel Arteta this season, making 19 appearances across all competitions.
His Premier League minutes have been limited, making just 56 in total, with his last league appearance coming in March.
At 32, with Arsenal pushing for the title and a Champions League final on the horizon on May 30th, any minutes now seem unlikely, particularly following Myles Lewis-Skelly’s midfield breakthrough.
He is contracted until June 2027, with an option for a further year, but this summer could yet bring a fresh decision on his club future too.
For now though, the former Brentford man can sign off on his international career with pride as a distinguished servant to Danish football.
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