South Africa World Cup 2010 Group E: Denmark

GROUP E

The Netherlands Japan Cameroon Denmark

Denmark

Road to South Africa

Denmark's campaign was on a par with anyone in the European section. Grouped with Portugal, Sweden and Hungary, they stunned the fancied Portuguese in Lisbon 3-2 with two injury time goals and defeated the Swedes home and away to finish top of the pile.

A 1-0 win against Sweden in Copenhagen in October secured their qualification for South Africa with a round remaining and condemned Portugal to the playoffs. In fact, Denmark's sole defeat of the qualifying campaign - at home to Hungary - was only inflicted after progression to the finals had been confirmed.

Fixtures

Denmark Copyright © Soccerphile	Denmark Copyright © Soccerphile

Denmark v The Netherlands 14 June; Johannesburg
Denmark v Cameroon 19 June; Pretoria
Denmark v Japan 24 June; Rustenburg

Analysis

The 1992 European Championship victory against all the odds is testament to the Danes's ability to cope with the biggest stage. But while they tend not to get overly star struck when they make the World Cup finals, South Africa 2010 is only their fourth finals appearance, with their previous outing coming eight years ago in Japan & Korea.

Despite this period of abstinence, Morten Olsen's group of experienced campaigners can still muster significant finals memories between them, including Fiorentina attacker Martin Jorgensen who played five games in the 1998 World Cup in France when Denmark advanced to the quarter-finals before being eliminated by Brazil.

Jorgensen, 33, who played six times in qualifying, also went to Japan & Korea alongside current squad members, goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen (who will turn 34 on the eve of his side's opening round clash with The Netherlands), Jesper Gronkjaer, Christian Poulsen and evergreen striker Jon Dahl Tomasson, now captain of the national team.

Don't forget, too, that Olsen played in the 1986 finals in Mexico.

Key player: Nicklas Bendtner

Arsenal's Nicklas Bendtner is not especially popular with Gunners fans but the deadly striker is loved by his country's supporters and has become a focal point for Olsen's workmanlike Danish side. Bendtner played nine qualifiers, scoring three times (twice against Portugal), and his individual efforts helped him collect the Danish player-of-the-year award. Things are playing out nicely for the confident 22-year-old. With a return from groin surgery imminent and Arsenal chasing hard for the Premier League title 2010 could be some year.

One to watch: Simon Kjaer

Simon Kjaer might have only racked up four caps so far, but the athletic 20-year-old central defender was entrusted to start all three of Denmark's crucial autumn World Cup qualifiers, including the decisive win over Sweden, where he and Daniel Agger kept Zlatan Ibrahimovic at bay. His reputation is such that even a starting position at Serie A side Palermo isn't necessarily sufficient to keep him in Italy beyond the World Cup. Kjaer, a self-confessed Liverpool fan, has inevitably attracted the attentions of EPL giants but the £11m buy-out clause in his current Palermo deal means he won't come cheap.

Coach: Morten Olsen

Morten Olsen can't be accused of doing things by half. Or lacking commitment for that matter with the Danes's sweeping displays during 2010 qualifying testament to Olsen's determination to complete the job he started at the turn of the century. The former national team defender with over 100 international caps as a player and who played until his retirement aged 40, failed to take Denmark to either the last World Cup or Euro 2008. Others with less resolve might have been tempted to take a lucrative club job, but Olsen stayed and will hope to celebrate an unlikely decade in charge with a decent run in South Africa.

Record

1986, 2002 Second Round; 1998 Quarterfinals

FIFA Ranking

Predictions & Latest Odds

Early flight home for Olli and the boys.
World Cup Betting

How they qualified

First in European qualifying group 1 ahead of Portugal and Sweden.

On the sidelines

Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel won 129 caps for the Danes.
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Soccerphile says

Denmark were impressive in qualifying, but so too were Group E rivals The Netherlands, Cameroon and Japan. Emulating 2002, where they memorably beat holders France in the first round, will be a tough ask.

The Squad

Goalkeepers Thomas Sorensen (Stoke City), Stephan Andersen (Brondby), Jesper Christiansen (FC Copenhagen)
Defenders: William Kvist (FC Copenhagen), Simon Kjaer (Palermo), Lars Jacobsen (Blackburn Rovers), Per Kroldup (Fiorentina), Daniel Agger (Liverpool), Patrick Mtigliga (Malaga), Simon Poulsen (AZ Alkmaar)
Midfielders: Martin Jorgensen (AGF Aarhus), Christian Poulsen (Juventus), Jakob Poulsen (AGF Aarhus), Dennis Rommedahl (Ajax Amsterdam), Thomas Kahlenberg (VfL Wolfsburg), Thomas Enevoldsen (FC Groningen), Christian Eriksen (Ajax Amsterdam), Mikkel Beckmann (Randers), Daniel Jensen (Werder Bremen), Jesper Gronkjaer (FC Copenhagen)
Forwards: Jon Dahl Tomasson (Feyenoord), Soren Larsen (Toulouse), Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal)

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