After failing to qualify for Euro 2016, Denmark have made a return to the tournament, booking a place at the European Championship. With a decently balanced squad at their disposal, the Danes have a good chance of surprising many teams. They are placed in Group B alongside favourites Belgium, Russia and Finland. With four of the best third-placed teams also having the opportunity to qualify to the knockout stages, the Danish team will fancy their chances of making it out of the group. Recently, they have won their first three games in the 2022 World Cup qualification, scoring 14 goals and conceding none. The Danish team brushed Israel, Moldova, and Austria aside. As a result, they will undoubtedly go into Euro 2020 brimming with confidence, but the Danes will need to raise their game if they want to cause problems for the European giants.
The last time when Denmark got out of the group stage in the European Championship was way back in 2004. After that, they have qualified only once – 2012 Euros, but even then they failed to progress from their group. Many people are unaware that the Danes had previously won this competition. It was way back in 1992. Infact, Denmark did not even qualify for that tournament. Due to international sanctions resulting from the Yugoslav wars, the UEFA confirmed that Yugoslavia was to be excluded from the tournament, barely ten days before the competition. Denmark, who finished as the second-placed team in its qualifying group, was allocated the spot. Going into the tournament, they relied largely on former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel and his defence, with Brian Laudrup providing the creative spark. In the semifinal, Denmark overcame the Netherlands, the defending Euro 1988 winners, on penalties. Then, in the final, Denmark defeated defending World Cup champions Germany 2-0 to claim their first international trophy.
In order to repeat that feat or to come anywhere closer to achieving it this time, the Danish team need their star players to step up. The back four of Daniel Wass, Simon Kjaer, Andreas Christensen and Joakim Maehle remains sold and is guarded by the ever-reliable Kasper Schmeichel. In midfield, coach Kasper Hjulmandrelies relies on Borussia Dortmund’s Thomas Delaney and Tottenham Hotspur’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to control the central areas and provide cover for the backline, freeing Christian Eriksen to dictate the play. Eriksen will play a key role in linking up the midfield and attack. He needs to be at the top of his game to break up tight defences with his passing abilities. Eriksen can very well be the difference for the team in the tournament.
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After failing to qualify for Euro 2016, Denmark have made a return to the tournament, booking a place at the European Championship. With a decently balanced squad at their disposal, the Danes have a good chance of surprising many teams. They are placed in Group B alongside favourites Belgium, Russia and Finland. With four of the best third-placed teams also having the opportunity to qualify to the knockout stages, the Danish team will fancy their chances of making it out of the group. Recently, they have won their first three games in the 2022 World Cup qualification, scoring 14 goals and conceding none. The Danish team brushed Israel, Moldova, and Austria aside. As a result, they will undoubtedly go into Euro 2020 brimming with confidence, but the Danes will need to raise their game if they want to cause problems for the European giants.
The last time when Denmark got out of the group stage in the European Championship was way back in 2004. After that, they have qualified only once – 2012 Euros, but even then they failed to progress from their group. Many people are unaware that the Danes had previously won this competition. It was way back in 1992. Infact, Denmark did not even qualify for that tournament. Due to international sanctions resulting from the Yugoslav wars, the UEFA confirmed that Yugoslavia was to be excluded from the tournament, barely ten days before the competition. Denmark, who finished as the second-placed team in its qualifying group, was allocated the spot. Going into the tournament, they relied largely on former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel and his defence, with Brian Laudrup providing the creative spark. In the semifinal, Denmark overcame the Netherlands, the defending Euro 1988 winners, on penalties. Then, in the final, Denmark defeated defending World Cup champions Germany 2-0 to claim their first international trophy.
In order to repeat that feat or to come anywhere closer to achieving it this time, the Danish team need their star players to step up. The back four of Daniel Wass, Simon Kjaer, Andreas Christensen and Joakim Maehle remains sold and is guarded by the ever-reliable Kasper Schmeichel. In midfield, coach Kasper Hjulmandrelies relies on Borussia Dortmund’s Thomas Delaney and Tottenham Hotspur’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to control the central areas and provide cover for the backline, freeing Christian Eriksen to dictate the play. Eriksen will play a key role in linking up the midfield and attack. He needs to be at the top of his game to break up tight defences with his passing abilities. Eriksen can very well be the difference for the team in the tournament.
