Denmark

Surprise champions back again

Danish players pose for photographers before the second round match Denmark/England of the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea and Japan, 15 June 2002 at Niigata Big Swan Stadium. From L above: Thomas Sorensen, Martin Laursen, Jon Dahl Tomasson, Thomas Gravesen, Ebbe Sand, Jesper Gronkjaer. From L bottom: Stig Tofting, Thomas Helveg, Dennis Rommedahl, Niklas Jensen, Rene Henriksen. AFP PHOTO TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA

Champions in 1992 Denmark qualified for their sixth straight appearance at the European championships by holding their nerve in the last qualifier at Bosnia-Herzegovina, where they got the draw they needed to condemn group rivals Norway to the play-offs and send Romania crashing out.

Coached by their former captain Morten Olsen the Danes command a certain respect, having sprung many a surprise at major tournaments.

While the Scandinavian nation of just five million are outsiders for Portugal 2004, they caused one of the sport's greatest ever upsets when they won the 1992 tournament in Sweden.

Clad in red and white the marauding Danes led by Brian Laudrup and backed up by Peter Schmeichel in goal, only made the tournament by default when Uefa decided it would be better to exclude Yugoslavia, a nation then suffering a painful civil war.

Uefa handed the free ticket to the finals to Denmark, who had narrowly missed out on direct qualification, but romped to eventual victory beating Holland in the semis and then Germany in the final.

Denmark have also done well at the World Cup, reaching the quarter-finals in both 1986 and 1998. They also sent champions France home from Japan-Korea 2002 with a 2-0 win in their final group match.

Scattered stars

Olsen has a host of talent to pick from, most of whom are scattered around the top flights in Europe.

Jon Dahl Tomasson (AC Milan), Dennis Rommedahl (PSV Eindhoven) and Ebbe Sand (Schalke 04) offer plenty of firepower up front while they are supported by the likes of veteran midfielder Thomas Gravesen (Everton) winger Jesper Gronkjaer (Chelsea) and Martin Jorgensen, the midfielder who joined Lazio in 2003 after several seasons at Udinese.

Goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen (Aston Villa) has the tough job of filling the boots left by Peter Schmeichel, but has proved a solid custodian behind a defence shored up by Thomas Helveg (AC Milan) and Niclas Jensen (Borussia Dortmund).

Denmark finished top of their group in a tight campaign just one point ahead of neighbors Norway and Romania while Bosnia were a further point back and hapless Luxembourg who finished pointless and last.

The draw for the first round of the finals proper sees them pitched against Sweden, Bulgaria and Italy, all winners of their respected qualifying groups, therefore making Group C a dangerous one.

Euro 2000 was one to forget for the Danes with a disaster in the first round where they lost all three matches to finish bottom behind co-hosts Holland, eventual champions France and the Czech Republic.

Factfile on Denmark

Population

5.3 million

Area

43,094 sq.km

Capital

Copenhagen

Currency

Danish Krone

Federation

Dansk Boldspil-Union (Danish Football Union) founded in 1889

Affiliated to FIFA

1904

Affiliated to UEFA

1954

Registered players

308,318

Colours

Red shirts, white shorts, red socks

Top clubs

Brondby, FC Copenhagen, Aarhus, Velje, Odense

World Cup appearances

3 (1986, 1998, 2002)

World Cup honours

Quarter-finals (1998), Second round (1986, 2002)

European Championship appearances

7 (1964, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004)

European Championship honours

Winner (1992), semi-finalists (1964, 1984)

How they qualified

Finished top of Group 2 with 15 points (4 wins, 3 draws, 1 defeat, 15 goals for, 9 against) ahead of Norway (14pts), Romania (14pts), Bosnia-Herzegovina (13pts) and Luxembourg (0pts)

Key players

Jon Dahl Tomasson, Ebbe Sand, Dennis Rommedahl, Jesper Gronkjaer

Coach

Morten Olsen