The tournament may be underway, but there’s still a chance to preview another of the sides that will hope to fly under the radar and navigate their way through their group and shimmy past more illustrious opponents. The underdogs for this time are the only representative from Scandinavia; Denmark.
Denmark
Form for this: Failed to qualify for Euro 2008 and the World Cup four years ago. Last appearance at a major tournament was 2004 where they progressed through to the quarter finals before coming up against a wonderful Czech side.
Why they’ll get through: They won their qualification group which featured Portugal, Sweden and Hungary forcing Portugal to settle for the playoffs, a qualification group that was arguably the most challenging of the 9. Their group at the world cup, whilst not being easy by any stretch of the imagination is not “the group of death”. Few would expect them to finish ahead of the Netherlands but Japan and a Cameroon side that is all too reliant on Eto’o should be teams the Danish can get the better of. And if things go their way the second round could be even easier than their group.
The side itself features players representing some top sides in each of Europes top leagues but has no obvious world class players. Tomasson, Rommedahl, Gronkjaer and Jorgensen are still around and doing the business for the national side and will have a wealth of experience to draw from. The centre back pairing of Kjaer and Agger is one that could easily feature for any top side in Europe. Both are excellent on the ball for defenders (capable of more than no-nonsense defending) and well disciplined players. Kjaer has had an outstanding season for Palermo and has drawn the attention of numerous top clubs and Agger is widely accepted as one of the few good things at Liverpool these days. Denmark can simply play the ball from the back all the way to the front unlike many of the other nations at the World Cup. Up front they have a maverick in the form of Bendtner who frustrates Arsenal fans consistently with, well – his inconsistency, but is capable of rubbing shoulders with the worlds best on his day. Aside from anything else, they are well organised, well managed and have enough quality to at least enter the knockout stages (something they have never failed to do when at the World Cup).
Why they’ll crash out: They lack that little extra. The absence of a genuine world class talent is something that sticks out when looking at the Danish. A well balanced and rounded team they are but should they come up against a real talent they may be found wanting. Cameroon have Eto’o, the Netherlands have a number that can be classed as World Class, the Danish have… Bendtner, who will rank himself as a world beater, but he is in the minority. In addition those listed as being experienced; Tomasson, Rommedahl, Gronkjaer and Jorgensen are all past their best and long gone are the days at Milan, dominating the Dutch leagues in an excellent PSV side, flying down the wing for Chelsea and being the creative spark for Fiorentina. The pace that some of them once relied on has gone and now they are just ageing names. Their group is difficult and if they aren’t at their best then they could and probably would go out without so much as a whimper.
Prediction: The second round is probably the end of their journey but progressing from their group would have to be a success nonetheless. But should they avoid Italy then there’s no reason a quarter final spot isn’t beyond them.
The Vuvuzela View 