Denmark defender Simon Poulsen was having a good game against the Netherlands on Monday when disaster struck just after the halftime break.
Poulsen misjudged a seemingly harmless cross. Instead of clearing the ball comfortably, he headed it into the back of teammate Daniel Agger and watched it deflect across the goal line.
``I was just thinking, 'this can't be happening,''' Poulsen said.
The 25-year-old, who plays club football for Dutch team AZ Alkmaar, patiently answered reporters' questions about the situation and took full responsibility for the game-changing goal. Denmark had frustrated the Netherlands until that point, but was forced to relax its compact defense as it chased an equalizer.
``Of course I take it seriously. But what can I do?'' he said. ``I can go cry and then they can send me home. But that's not what it's about.
``You have to admit when it's your fault and today it was my mistake but I need to go forward.''
The 2-0 loss was Poulsen's sixth international match for Denmark.
Denmark coach Morten Olsen, who played for the national team in the 1970s and '80s, put his arm around Poulsen as he walked of the pitch.
``I said to him that it happened also for me one time in my career,'' Olsen said. ``He has to forget it and he has to look forward to the next game.''
Denmark plays Cameroon next in Group E.
