{"id":1210391,"date":"2021-06-29T11:45:39","date_gmt":"2021-06-29T10:45:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1210391"},"modified":"2026-02-17T17:06:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T17:06:16","slug":"dolberg-ajax-euro-2020-denmark","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/dolberg-ajax-euro-2020-denmark\/","title":{"rendered":"The meteoric rise and unfortunate fall of Kasper Dolberg at Ajax"},"content":{"rendered":"

It was somewhat fitting that Kasper Dolberg broke the deadlock in Denmark’s Euro 2020 last-16 tie against Wales.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Following great link-up play with Mikkel Darmsgaard, Dolberg produced a brilliant strike from just outside the box, which Danny Ward had no chance of saving. This effort was the 23-year-old’s first in the competition and it just so happened to be at his old stomping ground.<\/p>\n

During a three-year period for Dutch giants Ajax, the Silkeborg-born footballer made 119 appearances in all competitions, scoring 45 times whilst creating 11 more. Before facing Robert Page’s men the last time Dolberg celebrated a goal at the Johan Cruijff ArenA was in July 2019 (in the Dutch Super Cup vs PSV), a month before he completed a reported \u20ac20.5m switch to Ligue 1 outfit Nice.<\/p>\n\n

A graduate of Ajax’s esteemed academy, Dolberg announced himself to great fanfare with the world seemingly at his feet. But like an explosion it all vanished, though his career hasn’t exactly been derailed. Just three minutes after the break against Wales, Dolberg doubled Denmark’s lead, but had things turned out differently, Amsterdam would still be home.<\/p>\n

Undeniable rise<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The early 2010s saw Ajax go through a list of No. 9s, each starting well before eventually regressing, but Arkadiusz Milik was different. Initially on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, the Polish striker brought his A-game to Amsterdam, subsequently earning a contract after bagging 23 goals across 34 matches (2014\/15).<\/p>\n

Milik went one better the following season, before Napoli made the Amsterdammers an offer they couldn’t refuse, presenting an opportunity which Dolberg grabbed with both hands. Under Peter Bosz’s leadership, the Dane finished the 2016\/17 campaign with 23 goals across 47 matches in all competitions, seven of which came in Ajax’s incredible Europa League final run. Affectionately dubbed ‘Goalberg’, he was gaining traction. Lionel Messi even named him as one of the nine best young talents in world football.<\/p>\n

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Kasper Dolberg: Backed By Messi.
?\u2705?#Messi16<\/a> #FirstNeverFollows<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/lIFEUf9xLR<\/a><\/p>\n

— Team Messi (@TeamMessi) October 13, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n