Austria defender Kevin Danso, who has emerged as one of Ligue 1’s top central defenders with RC Lens, is set to make his debut in a major tournament with the Austrian national team at Euro 2024.

Danso, of Ghanaian descent, has impressed with his performances against top-tier talents in France and now aims to bring that experience to the international stage. The 25-year-old has faced some of the world’s best footballers, including Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe.

Reflecting on these encounters, Danso remarked, “Against Mbappe, he is currently the best player in the world for me. With Messi, I was impressed by the matter-of-factness with which he does little things that you would never have thought possible. I can remember exactly how he ran towards me in my first game against him. He opened his hips, so to speak, as if he was aiming for the far corner and then shot past me on the inside. The goalkeeper, I, everyone just stood there and couldn’t believe how that was possible. Luckily, the shot only hit the post. It’s always the best to play against players like that.”

Despite his awe, Danso uses psychological tactics to gain an edge on the pitch. “I try to start a conversation with Mbappe during games to throw him off track. Once I took the ball from him and then shouted: ‘My arm is just too strong for you, you can’t get past me!’ He said: ‘Yes, yes!’ Then I said: ‘Okay, try again!’ Situations like that give me confidence,” he shared.

Danso’s performances have attracted interest from clubs like FC Bayern Munich, but he remains focused on his current role. “I don’t worry about that. Of course, it’s nice to hear something like that. But I don’t know if the rumors were true. My agent takes care of that. My focus is on my performance,” he said.

As Austria prepares for Euro 2024, Danso is optimistic about the team’s chances, even in a challenging group that includes France, the Netherlands, and Poland. “It’s a difficult group, but if we show our quality, we’ll definitely get through. A group stage exit would be a disappointment,” he stated.

Austria has been in excellent form, recently achieving convincing friendly match victories against Germany, Slovakia, and Turkey. Danso attributes this success to coach Ralf Rangnick’s approach. “Ralf Rangnick’s philosophy fits us perfectly. When he came in 2022, we played well straight away, but we didn’t always win – now we’re winning, too. We play bravely against every opponent, no matter how good they are,” he explained.

Rangnick’s meticulous preparation, including unique strategies like recommending players bring their own pillows to ensure better sleep, has made a significant impact. “Rangnick strives for perfection in every respect and always thinks of everything,” Danso noted.

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