With
Euro 2012 kicking-off - it's time to profile the countries taking part, from
their footballing beginnings to the present day.
Coach: Morten Olsen
Qualifying
Group Winners
One to Watch: Christian Eriksen
As
we approach the summer of 2012 all of our minds, well most of them at least,
will turn away from the domestic football competitions within our own
countries, towards the International arena for the eagerly awaited European
Championship Finals, to be held in Poland and the Ukraine. At It's All In The
Game, I shall be profiling each of the 16 finalists that will bid to become the
champions of Europe until 2016.
We
travel to Scandinavia for the next in the series of Euro 2012 profiles, to take
a look at Denmark. Although Denmark competed at the first official
international football tournament at the 1908 Olympics, the Danish Football
Association (DBU) adopted a policy to keep the Danish side amateur, mainly due
to economic limitations, and bar professionals from selection.
During
this time Denmark played friendlies; their only forays into international
competition being at the Olympics in 1948, 1952 and 1960, and involvement in
the European Cup of Nations in 1964. The DBU finally relaxed the law banning
professionals from the national team in 1971 in order to build a competitive
team and, in 1978, the authority allowed the creation of a professional league.
Since then the Danes have become a reasonable force in international football,
qualifying for four World Cup Finals and making five appearances at the
European Championships.
The
1980s saw a “Golden Generation” of Danish football as the Danes exploded onto
the international stage. Qualification for Euro 84 in France was followed up by
a magnificent run to the semi-finals, where they were edged out on penalties by
the Spanish. Under coach Sepp Piontek, with his quick, attacking style of play
and with exciting, pacey, skilful players such as Elkjaer and the Laudrup
brothers, first Michael and later Brian, Denmark captured the imagination and
the term “Danish Dynamite” was coined.
In
1986, in Mexico, Denmark competed in their first World Cup Finals and, taking
the tournament by storm, they blew away well fancied Uruguay in their opening
game, defeating the South Americans 6-1. Michael Laudrup and Elkjaer combined
to devastating effect and the touch, pace and skill of the Danish eleven were far too much for
the Uruguayans to handle.
Unfortunately
for Laudrup and co., the run ultimately ended in defeat, in equally emphatic
fashion, going down 1-5, again to Spain, in the last 16. The Danes had,
however, succeeded in winning the hearts of the watching public. Qualification
for Euro 1988 ensued, however, Denmark failed to emerge from the group stage,
losing all three games; failure to qualify for Italia 90 followed.
Denmark’s
finest hour came, very unexpectedly, in 1992.
Problems surfaced within the squad under the new coach Richard Moller
Nielson during the qualification process for Euro 92. After the effective
resignation of star players Michael and Brian Laudrup, in protest over the new,
more defensive strategy, many in the Danish press called for the coach to be replaced.
The
Danes finished the qualifying group for Euro 92 in second place behind
Yugoslavia and therefore failed to qualify for the competition in Sweden. Weeks
later, a vicious civil war broke out in Yugoslavia and the Yugoslav team was
banned from competing internationally. Having finished just behind the excluded
nation, Denmark were admitted entrance to the tournament only ten days before
it was due to begin.
Building
on the goalkeeping excellence of Peter Schmeichel, the stubborn defence in
front of him and utilising the flair and creativity of Brian Laudrup, who had reversed his prior decision to
retire, the Danes put together a tremendous run to win the tournament. The
success was no fluke, nor was it achieved by taking the easy route as Denmark
defeated the defending champions, Holland, in the semi, and the then World Cup
holders, Germany, 2-0 in the final.
Since
then Denmark have continued to be a recognised force in international football,
qualifying for most major tournaments, but not advancing beyond the first
knock-out stage at any of them. Current coach Morten Olsen has been in charge
since 2000 and has overseen qualification to four finals tournaments, including
this year’s.
The
current squad qualified impressively for Poland and Ukraine, topping a group
which included Portugal and Norway, winning six games and losing only one.
Looking at the squad now, it is fairly similar to that of 2010, they have
strong defenders such as Agger and Jacobsen with plenty of experience and
strength in depth.
The
Danes also have some exciting young talent, including Christian Eriksen of
Ajax, the youngest man to be capped by Denmark since Michael Laudrup. Eriksen
is one to look out for next summer, the 19 year old was named Player of the
Year by the Danish FA last year, and was an ever-present in the qualifying
campaign. Under Frank de Boer Ajax have just won their first league title in
six years, with Eriksen playing a major part in his club's success.
The
youngster, who plays with a maturity well beyond his years, yet a flair which
is very much of them, is highly coveted and is known to be on the radars of
Manchester United, AC Milan and Liverpool. He is an attacking midfielder who
can play anywhere across the line but he is particularly effective playing from
the left. His speed of thought, touch
and playmaking ability have seen him shine for Ajax in this season's Champions
League, and he looks certain to make headlines in Poland and Ukraine.
This
Denmark side would normally have every chance of getting as far as the
knock-out stages of a major tournament, potentially further. As a footballing
entity the Danes have tended to emerge
from the group stages at major
championships fairly consistently. This Danish squad is better than it has been
for the last few tournaments, with a close, tight-knit set up, good results in
qualifying, experience and several exciting youngsters coming through, this
could be their year to go a little further.
This
optimism must be tempered though, as Denmark have been drawn into the "Group
of Death". There is always one at major tournaments, especially the Euros
where the competition is so fierce and, unfortunately for the Danes, they're in
it, along with Portugal, Holland and Germany. It is not all bad news for the
Danes, they did, as mentioned above, top a qualifying group which contained
Portugal, beating them once on the way to that success, however, if they were
to emerge from this group it would be a major shock.
Holland
and Germany are amongst many observers' favourites to claim the title in the
summer, with Portugal seen as "dark horses" for the big prize, so, if
the Danes are to triumph, they will have to perform to their utmost potential.
That said, their attacking, pacey skilful style of play is fantastic to watch on
the international stage and they are an interesting proposition. If they escape
from the group with their lives, and it's a big IF, they may just go all the
way.
By Neil Patterson
Email: neil.b.patterson@gmail.com
Facebook: http://goo.gl/MJce0
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Neil1980
Blog: http://itsallinthegameblog.wordpress.com
