Euro 2012 Group B: Denmark
GROUP B
Denmark Germany Portugal Netherlands
[Team Jersey Images © Soccerphile]
Denmark
Road to Poland & Ukraine
Despite being drawn in a tough group which included Scandinavian rivals Norway and the highly fancied Portugal, Denmark managed to top Group H of Euro 2012 qualifying.
They needed plenty of luck to do so, with a Thomas Kahlenberg winner in stoppage-time securing an opening win over Iceland, whilst a home win over Norway proved equally vital. Denmark finished the group with another home win over Portugal, but their 100 per cent record at the Parken Stadion in Copenhagen will count for little when they run out at the finals in the Ukraine.
Fixtures
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Denmark Kit 1
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Denmark Kit 2
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Denmark v Netherlands 9 June; Kharkiv
Denmark v Portugal 13 June; Lviv
Denmark v Germany; 17 June; Lviv
Analysis
For so long a solid but unspectacular side, Denmark's squad is sprinkled with workmen-like talent from the local Superliga combined with a handful of bigger names from European clubs.
Big things are expected of current Roma defender Simon Kjaer, whilst the likes of captain Daniel Agger from English giants Liverpool, Evian midfielder Christian Poulsen, Sunderland striker Nikolas Bendtner and evergreen Brøndby winger Dennis Rommedahl are household names across Europe.
Denmark were particularly solid in defence throughout qualifying, and they have a pair of reliable goalkeepers in veteran Thomas Sørensen and up-and-coming Manchester United goalkeeper Anders Lindergaard to rely upon against more attacking opponents.
Key player: Christian Eriksen
Hardly the most creative of sides, Denmark will rely heavily on the promptings of 20-year-old Ajax talent Christian Eriksen. That could be a problem for the 1992 European champions given that the precociously talented Eriksen was used only sparingly at the World Cup in 2010 and is yet to prove himself on the international stage.
One to watch: Nicolai Jørgensen
The Danes have a handful of talented youngsters, but aside from Eriksen, on loan Kaiserslautern winger Nicolai Jørgensen is perhaps the most promising of them. German side Bayer Leverkusen saw enough in the pacy attacker to sign him from Copenhagen-based AB, and Jørgensen will be aiming to make his mark on a national team which isn't exactly renowned for its goal scoring prowess.
Coach: Morten Olsen
A legend in Danish football, Morten Olsen has been at the helm of the Danish national team since 2000. Since then he's overseen impressive performances at the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004, but has come under increasing criticism for his dour tactics and conservative brand of football, and the 62-year-old will step down at the tournament's conclusion.
Record
1960, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 2008 Did not qualify; 1984 Semi-finalists; 1988, 1996, 2000 Group stage; 1992 Champions; 2004 Quarter-finalists
FIFA Ranking
How they qualified for Euro 2012
Topped Group H including beating Portugal 2-1 at home.
On the sidelines
Denmark's nickname is De Rød-Hvide (The Red and Whites); a low 27% of the national team play in the top four European leagues.
Soccerphile says
As if Denmark didn't already expect a tough tournament, they've been drawn in the "Group of Death" alongside Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal. They'll take confidence from their final qualifying win over the Portugese in Copenhagen, but Olsen's side lack the firepower to trouble their high-quality opponents and are almost certain to make a hasty group stage exit.
The Squad
Goalkeepers: Stephan Andersen (Evian Thonon Gaillard), Anders Lindegaard (Manchester United), Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City)
Defenders: Lars Jacobsen (FC Kobenhavn), Daniel Wass (Evian Thonon Gaillard), Daniel Agger (Liverpool), Simon Kjær (AS Roma), Andreas Bjelland (Nordsjælland), Simon Poulsen (AZ Alkmaar), Jores Okore (Nordsjælland)
Midfielders: Christian Poulsen (Evian Thonon Gaillard), Jakob Poulsen (Midtjylland), William Kvist (FC Nürnberg), Niki Zimling (Club Brugge), Thomas Kahlenberg (Evian Thonon Gaillard), Christian Eriksen (Ajax), Michael Silberbauer (BSC Young Boys), Lasse Schone (NEC Nijmegen)
Forwards: Dennis Rommedahl (Brondby IF), Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal), Michael Krohn-Dehli (Brondby IF), Tobias Mikkelsen (FC Nordsjælland), Nicklas Pedersen (FC Groningen)