NI v Denmark(20/11/2023)

EURO 2024 QUALIFIER - GROUP H NORTHERN IRELAND V DENMARK

NATIONAL FOOTBALL STADIUM AT WINDSOR PARK OFFICIAL MATCH DAY PROGRAMME | 20/11/2023 | £5

SEARCH NEW EE

02. 03. 04. 07. 10. 12. 18. 27. 34. 51.

TEAMS

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

MICHAEL O’NEILL PATRICK NELSON

NORTHERN IRELAND SQUAD

JAMAL LEWIS DID YOU KNOW? THE OPPONENTS

PAUL SMYTH

INTERNATIONAL RECORD

IRISH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

PRESIDENT: CONRAD KIRKWOOD CHIEF EXECUTIVE: PATRICK NELSON ADVERTISING: IRISH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION PICTURES: PRESS EYE

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION BY IRISH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION NATIONAL FOOTBALL STADIUM, DONEGALL AVE, BELFAST BT12 5LW

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS: DANNY LYNCH EDITOR: NIGEL TILSON

DESIGN: MADCOLOUR.COM PRINT: MADCOLOUR.COM

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE VIEWS IN THIS PROGRAMME DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THOSE OF THE IRISH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION.

IRISHFA.COM

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NORTHERN IRELAND GREEN & WHITE

DENMARK RED & WHITE

MANAGER M. O’NEILL

HEAD COACH K. HJULMAND

C. HAZARD (PLYMOUTH ARGYLE) L. SOUTHWOOD (CHELTENHAM TOWN) S. McMULLAN (FLEETWOOD TOWN) M. FORBES (WEST HAM UNITED) P. McNAIR (MIDDLESBROUGH) J. LEWIS (WATFORD*) D. BALLARD (SUNDERLAND) C. BROWN (OXFORD UNITED) T. HUME (SUNDERLAND) B. SPENCER (MOTHERWELL**) E. TOAL (BOLTON WANDERERS) G. SAVILLE (MILLWALL) J. THOMPSON (STOKE CITY) S. CHARLES (SOUTHAMPTON) C. McMENAMIN (ST MIRREN) P. SMYTH (QUEENS PARK RANGERS) C. BOYD-MUNCE (ST MIRREN) I. PRICE (STANDARD LIEGE) M. KENNEDY (KILMARNOCK) D. TAYLOR (WYCOMBE WANDERERS***) T. DEVLIN (PORTSMOUTH) R. McCAUSLAND (RANGERS) J. MAGENNIS (WIGAN ATHLETIC) C. WASHINGTON (DERBY COUNTY) D. CHARLES (BOLTON WANDERERS) C. MARSHALL (WEST HAM UNITED)

K. SCHMEICHEL (ANDERLECHT (BEL) F. RØNNOW (UNION BERLIN (GER) M. HERMANSEN (LEICESTER CITY) A. CHRISTENSEN (BARCELONA (ESP) J. MÆHLE (WOLFSBURG (GER) J. VESTERGAARD (LEICESTER CITY) J. ANDERSEN (CRYSTAL PALACE) R. KRISTENSEN (ROMA (ITA) V. NELSSON (GALATASARAY (TUR) V. KRISTIANSEN (BOLOGNA (ITA) J. STRYGER LARSEN (TRABZONSPOR (TUR) J. LINDSTRØM (NAPOLI (ITA) T. DELANEY (ANDERLECHT (BEL) PE. HØJBJERG (TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR) M. JENSEN (BRENTFORD) C. NØRGAARD (BRENTFORD) M. HJULMAND (SPORTING LISBON (POR) M. O’RILEY (CELTIC)

Y. POULSEN (RB LEIPZIG (GER) K. DOLBERG (ANDERLECHT (BEL) J. WIND (WOLFSBURG (GER) M. DARAMY (REIMS (FRA) A. DREYER (ANDERLECHT (BEL)

* ON LOAN FROM NEWCASTLE UNITED ** ON LOAN FROM HUDDERSFIELD TOWN *** ON LOAN FROM NOTTINGHAM FOREST

MATCH DAY OFFICIALS REFEREE : JÉRÔME BRISARD (FRA)

ASSISTANT REFEREE 1 : NICOLAS DANOS (FRA) ASSISTANT REFEREE 2 : AURÉLIEN DROUET (FRA) 4TH OFFICIAL : RUDDY BUQUET (FRA) VIDEO ASSISTANT REFEREE : ERIC WATTELLIER (FRA) ASSISTANT VIDEO ASSISTANT REFEREE : FRANÇOIS LETEXIER (FRA)

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PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

Good evening and welcome to the players, officials and supporters of Denmark. And, naturally, I also extend a warm welcome to all our fans. A big thank-you to those of you who travelled to Helsinki and wrapped up warm to support the team.

Tonight will bring what has been a disappointing UEFA Euro 2024 qualification campaign for us to a close. To paraphrase Michael O’Neill, it has been a most challenging set of fixtures this year. Managers don’t like using injuries as an excuse for not being able to reach the heights expected, however there’s no doubt the absence of numerous senior players at various stages has hampered our team’s progress. Having said that, I concur with the manager that we have lots of young talent in our midst and that should give us optimism for the future. We need to nurture that talent and plan ahead for the next campaign. My congratulations go to George Saville on reaching the 50-cap milestone against Finland on Friday. He joins an elite band of 42 players who have achieved that feat. George has been a solid performer for us since first donning the green shirt back in 2017. In our game away to Denmark back in June we played well in spells but one of our potential stars of the future, Callum Marshall, was cruelly denied a goal on his senior debut by a VAR decision that looked somewhat dubious. Denmark will be in celebratory mood tonight. They secured their place at the UEFA Euro 2024 final tournament in Germany next summer with a 2-1 victory over Slovenia in Copenhagen on Friday. The Danish were the favourites to win Group H before a ball was kicked – and they lived up to that billing.

Their success at the Parken Stadium on Friday was their seventh win in nine group matches. They have only suffered one defeat in amassing 22 points to date. I congratulate Denmark on making it to the European Championship finals next year and hope they do well in the tournament. The second qualification place in Group H will be decided tonight when Slovenia (19 points) take on Kazahkstan (18 points) at Stadion Stozice in Ljubljana. A win or draw will be enough for the Slovenians, while Kazakhstan must win the game. Even if the result goes against them, the Kazahks will still get another crack at reaching next year’s Euros as they have already guaranteed a play-off spot for Euro 2024 through the UEFA Nations League. Denmark need a point in Belfast to ensure they finish top of the group so I can’t see them taking their foot off the gas at all. They will want to add to their overall points tally. For our part it’s only pride that our team are playing for, however anything is possible at home. Let’s hope we can produce a good performance in Belfast tonight and finish our qualification campaign on a high. Thanks again for your unwavering support through a difficult campaign and let’s cheer on the players towards better days. CONRAD KIRKWOOD PRESIDENT IRISH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

IRISHFA.COM

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We come into this game, the final match in our UEFA Euro 2024 qualification campaign, on the back of another frustrating result.

We have lost most of our matches in Group H by fine margins, including our 1-0 defeat to Denmark at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen back in June. Friday night’s qualifier against Finland did, of course, bring our heaviest defeat. But again, like in so many of the other games, we played some decent football at times and created chances. However, as was the case in other group matches, individual errors cost us against the Finns. If we can cut out those errors then I believe we have every chance of moulding a team that can compete for places at major tournaments in the years ahead. I have asked a lot of the younger players in our squad in this campaign, however they have done really well in trying circumstances. When I returned to the role of Northern Ireland boss late last year I did not envisage that I would be without so many senior players throughout this campaign. Nor did I think that I would be reliant on so many younger players. It’s difficult coming in and playing senior international football when you are a young player, especially when you are getting beaten in games. It’s not an easy situation for a young player to deal with, but that’s where we are - and we have to deal with that. I thought that for the first 40 minutes against Finland we more than matched our opponents. Going in at half-time a goal down was harsh on us, however conceding so soon after the interval gave us a mountain to climb, and ultimately we were unable to climb it.

I tell the players that if you are going to lose a goal in matches then make sure it’s down to the quality of the opposition rather than individual errors. I also urge them to learn from their mistakes and to see that the difference between winning and losing games is often down to fine margins. The fans travelled to Finland in their hundreds and we appreciate their ongoing support. Like ourselves, the fans have been disappointed with the results in this campaign, however I think they understand that we are lacking a bit of experience and know-how in key areas just now. The most important thing for us as a group is to give them something positive from tonight’s game. We know Denmark are a very good side, which they have shown by securing a place at Euro 2024 with a game to spare. And well done to them on reaching the finals in Germany. Naturally, people will be questioning the character of the squad following the game in Helsinki, but I expect the players to show their character against the Danes. The emphasis in front of a full house at the National Stadium tonight will be on showing the best side of ourselves. Thanks, as ever, for your great support.

Enjoy the game. MICHAEL O’NEILL NORTHERN IRELAND MANAGER

IRISHFA.COM

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GOOD EVENING Welcome to the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park for our final senior men’s international of 2023, and of course our final involvement in UEFA Euro 2024.

Congratulations to Denmark, our opponents tonight, who secured their ticket to the finals in Germany on Friday evening when they beat Slovenia at home. We would love to be in their position, but it was not to be for us this time. No-one would disagree with me when I say that we are very disappointed to be in the position we are in this evening, with seven defeats from nine matches in Group H. However, this shows very starkly that international football is getting ever more competitive and we have work to do in order to get back to the standard we have set ourselves for both senior men’s and senior women’s competitions - which is to challenge every time and qualify every other time. Looking back over the Euro 2024 qualification campaign there were a couple of sliding doors moments where if things had gone our way the momentum would perhaps have carried us further forward. I’m thinking of our opening home match against Finland in March where we had many chances to score but ended up losing by a single goal. In the following match away in Copenhagen the referee took a full six minutes to find a VAR camera angle which declared Callum Marshall’s injury time equaliser against Denmark offside. If those moments had been for us, we would have started with seven points from nine instead of

just three, and the course of the campaign could have been very different. As it stands Slovenia and Kazakhstan have taken advantage of our performances and play their own winner takes all game tonight for the second automatic qualification place. So in 2024 we need to regroup, reset, regain confidence and start to move forward again. This time last year we brought Michael O’Neill back for his second spell as our senior men’s international manager and we have full confidence in him as we embark upon a year where we will play friendly games in the first half of the year (March and June) followed by a UEFA Nations League campaign starting in September. Now is the time for us to show our support for our team as we endeavour this evening to restore some pride with a good result against our Danish opponents. Let’s be positive and give everyone our full backing. I hope you enjoy the game.

PATRICK NELSON CHIEF EXECUTIVE IRISH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

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NORTHERN IRELAND GREEN & WHITE

CONOR HAZARD

LUKE SOUTHWOOD

STEPHEN McMULLAN

MICHAEL FORBES

POS: CLUB:

POS: CLUB:

POS: CLUB:

POS: CLUB:

GOALKEEPER PLYMOUTH ARGYLE

GOALKEEPER CHELTENHAM TOWN

GOALKEEPER FLEETWOOD TOWN

DEFENDER WEST HAM UNITED

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

25

6

0

25

1

0

18

0

0

19

1

0

PATRICK McNAIR

JAMAL LEWIS

DANIEL BALLARD

CIARON BROWN

POS: CLUB:

POS: CLUB:

POS: CLUB:

POS: CLUB:

DEFENDER MIDDLESBROUGH

DEFENDER WATFORD*

DEFENDER SUNDERLAND

DEFENDER OXFORD UNITED

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

28

66

6

25

33

0

24

21

2

25

17

0

*ON LOAN FROM NEWCASTLE UNITED

EOIN TOAL

TRAI HUME

BRODIE SPENCER

GEORGE SAVILLE

POS: CLUB:

POS: CLUB:

POS: CLUB:

POS: CLUB:

DEFENDER BOLTON WANDERERS

DEFENDER SUNDERLAND

DEFENDER MOTHERWELL*

MIDFIELDER MILLWALL

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

24

2

0

21

9

0

19

5

0

30

50

0

*ON LOAN FROM HUDDERSFIELD TOWN

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NIR V DEN

PAUL SMYTH

POS: CLUB: MIDFIELDER STOKE CITY JORDAN THOMPSON

SHEA CHARLES

POS: CLUB: MIDFIELDER ST MIRREN CONNOR McMENAMIN

POS: CLUB:

POS: CLUB:

MIDFIELDER SOUTHAMPTON

MIDFIELDER QUEENS PARK RANGERS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

26

7

2

26

34

0

20

12

0

28

10

1

POS: CLUB: MIDFIELDER ST MIRREN CAOLAN BOYD-MUNCE

ISAAC PRICE

POS: CLUB: MIDFIELDER KILMARNOCK MATTHEW KENNEDY

DALE TAYLOR

TERRY DEVLIN

POS: CLUB:

POS: CLUB:

POS: CLUB:

MIDFIELDER STANDARD LIEGE

MIDFIELDER WYCOMBE WANDERERS*

MIDFIELDER PORTSMOUTH

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

23

0

0

20

8

1

28

5

0

19

5

0

20

0

0

*ON LOAN FROM NOTTINGHAM FOREST

POS: CLUB: FORWARD RANGERS ROSS McCAUSLAND

JOSH MAGENNIS

POS: CLUB: FORWARD DERBY COUNTY CONOR WASHINGTON

DION CHARLES

CALLUM MARSHALL

POS: CLUB:

POS: CLUB:

POS: CLUB:

FORWARD WIGAN ATHLETIC

FORWARD BOLTON WANDERERS

FORWARD WEST HAM UNITED

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

AGE

CAPS GOALS

20

1

0

33

76

11

31

42

6

28

21

2

18

3

0

IRISHFA.COM

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JAM JAMAL LEWIS EAGER AND READY TO PUSH ON Jamal Lewis insists there is “much more to come” from him as he looks to put a frustrating couple of years behind him. NIR V DEN

SQUAD NO: 03 \ NI APP: 32 CLUBS: NORWICH CITY 92, NEWCASTLE UNITED 31, WATFORD (LOAN)

PLACE OF BIRTH: LUTON HEIGHT: 177CM WEIGHT: 70KG

DATE OF BIRTH: 25-01-1998

POSITION: DEFENDER

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MAL WORDS : GARETH FULLERTON, BELFAST LIVE IRISHFA.COM 13

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JAMAL LEWIS EAGER AND READY TO PUSH ON

He says any international window is always an “opportunity” any player should grasp with both hands, regardless of their club position. “It is difficult stepping into international football when you’re not playing much club football. It is a different style and level, and you are exposing yourself to a higher level,” he said. “But I have always enjoyed my time with Northern Ireland. During the two years when I didn’t play much for Newcastle, I always looked forward to the international windows. “It was an opportunity to get some game time. It is an opportunity you need to take with both hands.” Injuries have undoubtedly held him back, especially since he signed for Newcastle from Norwich in September 2020. He said: “Unfortunately I was one of those players who had part of their career dictated by wee niggles and injuries. I learned about my body, what works and what is fragile. “I always pride myself in being the hardest worker, and the last player off the training pitch. But I had to be smarter in the way I work and discover my weak points. I feel my body is in a great place now.” Five years on from his debut, Lewis admits his Northern Ireland career has been a “rollercoaster” so far. He said: “It has certainly been up and down. But I appreciate football for everything it has given to me. “I had some high spells and low spells, as any footballer will relate to. Hopefully I get more luck and keep pushing on and playing as many games as possible. “I am 25 and feel I should be in my prime, but also kicking on and improving. I am just appreciating it all and taking everything in.”

A lack of game time at Newcastle United was compounded by a series of niggling injuries that halted any progress at St James’ Park - and for Northern Ireland. But following a loan move to Championship side Watford in the summer, and after overcoming a calf problem which kept him out of September’s Euro qualifiers, Lewis is confident better days lie ahead. “I am loving it at Watford. I am enjoying playing football week in, week out,” said the 25-year-old. “It is a feeling every footballer wants. You only realise how important it is when you’re not playing regularly. “It was frustrating at Newcastle. Timing, injuries and things like that impacted on things. “They are still my parent club and I support the boys every week. But it was time for me to get my career back to where I needed it to be, and that was playing games at as high a level as I can.” Lewis, who made the PFA Championship Team of the Year in 2018-19 during a successful spell at Norwich City that ultimately led to his move to Newcastle, said he is in a good place these days. He pointed out: “I feel I am getting back to full fitness, and the levels I want to reach. It takes a long time to get there after being out for a while. `”You can play the odd game here and there, but to get the consistency and match fitness and sharpness, it takes time. “I think there is loads more to come from me, and I am looking forward to that. Hopefully me playing at a consistent level benefits Northern Ireland.” Lewis made his debut for Northern Ireland in 2018 against South Korea and has gone on to earn 32 caps for his country (prior to Friday’s game against Finland).

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WORDS : MARSHALL GILLESPIE

Tonight will be the 18th occasion that Northern

Ireland have played a game on a Monday. On the previous 17 they have won four, drawn four and lost nine. Six of those 16 matches have been played at the revamped National Stadium where two wins have been recorded: against Slovenia in March 2016 (1-0) and Czech Republic in September 2017 (2-0).

Of the 754 players to have represented Ireland/Northern Ireland in the past 141 years only one has ever made their full international debut on their birthday. That player in question was Newcastle United full back Alf McMichael who turned 22 on the day they lost 8-2 to Scotland at Windsor Park on 1 October 1949.

When Eoin Toal and Brad Lyons made their international debuts against Slovenia last month they became the 753rd and 754th players to represent Ireland/Northern Ireland since 1882. It also meant that Michael O’Neill had given debuts to no fewer than 36 players over his two spells as manager of the national team.

In Northern Ireland’s previous 12 meetings

against Denmark they have won just twice, with both wins coming at Windsor Park. The first was in October 1978 when goals from substitutes Derek Spence and Trevor Anderson gave them a 2-1 ECQ victory in front of 20,184 spectators. The second came during the qualifying campaign for Euro 2008 when David Healy’s deft chip gave them another memorable 2-1 success. Their full record is: P W D L F A 12 2 5 5 9 15

When Eoin Toal won his first senior international cap against Slovenia he became the first player from the city of Armagh to represent Northern Ireland since Alfie Snape on 25 October 1919 - some 103 years and 357 days previously. In fact he is only the third player in total from the city to play for Northern Ireland, the other one being James Williamson who played for his country three times between 1890 and 1893.

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ALL STATISTICS CORRECT PRIOR TO FRIDAY’S MATCH WITH FINLAND

Only four players have made their Northern Ireland debuts while playing their football with clubs outside these shores. The first to do so was Johnny Crossan who was with Dutch side Sparta Rotterdam when he made his first appearance for Northern Ireland in a 2-1 defeat to England on 18 November 1959. The other players are: Liam Boyce (Werder Bremen) v Scotland (n) Lost 0-3 – 9 Feb 2011 Jonny Steele (New York Red Bulls) v Turkey (a) Lost 0-1 – 15 Nov 2013 Cameron McGeehan (KV Oostende) v San Marino (a) Won 2-0 – 23 Mar 2023

When QPR’s Paul Smyth scored in the 3-0 win against San Marino last month it meant there was a total of 2030 days between his first and second international goals for his country. Incidentally Northern Ireland have never lost any of the 14 games they have played when a player from Queens Park Rangers has found the net for them (11 wins, 3 draws).

The village of Sion Mills in Co Tyrone has produced three Northern Ireland internationals! The first was goalkeeper Alf Gardiner who picked up five caps between 1930 and 1931 while playing for Cliftonville. Another goalkeeper, Coleraine stalwart Victor Hunter, made two appearances for his country in the 1960s. The last Sion Mills-born player to represent Northern Ireland was Victor’s younger brother Allan, the former Blackburn Rovers and Ipswich Town player, who was capped a total of 53 times.

When Conor McMenamin scored his first international goal in the 3-0 win over San Marino last month he became only the second player born in Downpatrick to register a goal for Ireland/Northern Ireland since 1882. The first player to do so was James Sheridan of Everton who scored twice in six outings for his country, against Wales in March 1903 and versus Scotland in March 1904.

There have been three Canadian-born players who have gone on to win senior international honours with Northern Ireland, with probably the most famous of them being current assistant manager Jimmy Nicholl. The former Manchester United full back was born in Hamilton in Canada but moved back to Northern Ireland with his Ulster-born parents when he was three. The other two players were former Linfield goalkeeper Alan Mannus, who was born in Ontario, and George Forbes, who won three caps for Ireland between 1888 and 1891.

IRISHFA.COM

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ALL STATISTICS CORRECT PRIOR TO FRIDAY’S MATCH WITH FINLAND

PHIL GRAY’S BEST XI

Andy Greeves invites former Northern Ireland internationals to choose their best 11. The line-up can include players past and present and not necessarily former team-mates. Here Phil Gray chooses his squad…

GK – SHAY GIVEN I’ve played with some fantastic goalkeepers during my career, including Ray Clemence in a few reserve games for Tottenham. But the season we got promoted (to the Premier League) with Sunderland (1995-96), Shay Given came in on loan and he was absolutely incredible. LB – MICKY GRAY Pat Van Den Hauwe and Chris Hughton would be good shouts for the left-back spot, but I only played a few games with them at Tottenham. So I’m going to choose Micky Gray from my time at Sunderland. He was a typical modern full-back: good defensively but also great joining in the attacks. CB – ALAN McDONALD ‘Big Mac’ was immense for Northern Ireland. Fantastic in the air, a good tackler… he really was the perfect centre back. I played with some other fantastic centre-backs during my career like Kevin Ball but Big Mac gets the slot in my team. CB – ANDY MELVILLE I played with Andy Melville at Sunderland. Andy won 65 caps for Wales and I’d choose him as he’d complement Big Mac so well in defence. Mac was a defender who would look to be first to the ball, whereas Andy would drop off and was a ball-playing centre back. RB – MAL DONAGHY This is another position where I played with some top players during my career like Danny Thomas and Gary Stevens. But I’m going to go with Mal, who played right back for Northern Ireland a few times when I was in the team. His reading of the game

CM – PAUL GASCOIGNE Gazza is probably the easiest pick for this team. Technically the most gifted footballer I ever played with. He has to be in there. CM – MARK VAN BOMMEL I played for a Dutch side called Fortuna Sittard during my career and they had some very good players at the time like Fernando Ricksen and Patrick Paauwe. I also played with Mark van Bommel there – an excellent midfielder who was a regular in the Dutch national team for over 10 years and won major trophies with PSV, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and AC Milan. RM – KEITH GILLESPIE Keith was a magnificent player. He was a dream for a centre forward. His pace and delivery were exceptional. He’d keep it simple, get his head down, get past his player and cross it in. He created so many goals as a result. FW – DAVID HEALY David has to be included for goalscoring, particularly for the national team. He’s obviously a legend in Northern Ireland and a natural finisher. FW – GARY LINEKER As one of the most prolific goalscorers in English football history, Gary Lineker has to be in my team. An out-and-out goalscorer and the sort of forward any team would want. SUBS ERIK THORSTVEDT – A great goalkeeper for Spurs while I was there. KEVIN BALL – Kevin was a leader and a great defender. GARY STEVENS – An England international defender who I played with at Spur s. DANNY THOMAS – Another great player during my time at Spurs. PAUL WALSH – But for Healy and Lineker, Walsh would have got the nod as a forward in my team.

was second to none. LM – CHRIS WADDLE

Chris Waddle was a fantastic player who I had the good fortune to play with at Tottenham. He was great with the ball at his feet. He would run at you and you’d know exactly what he was going to do, but you just couldn’t stop him.

IRISHFA.COM

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WORDS : WILLIAM CAMPBELL

IT WILL PROBABLY BE EPIC

CALLUM MARSHALL CELEBRATES HIS ‘GOAL’ IN COPENHAGEN, BUT UNFORTUNATELY VAR RULED IT OUT.

I have always had a soft spot for Denmark. Many moons ago when life was more simple, and mobile phones had not been invented, it was to Denmark that I travelled with a Northern Ireland youth team.

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Did I ever write of the fact that I had the three England-based players in the back of my Ford Escort transporting them from Aldergrove to the Dunadry Hotel (don’t tell my car insurer!)? The late Alan McDonald scored our goal in a 1-1 draw. Or who could forget David Healy’s wonderful 35-yard strike which rifled into the net at the Railway End leaving the statuesque Peter Schmeichel rooted to the spot in another 1-1 draw in 2000? My own personal favourite is the match played in a deluge in 2007. It had rained all day in grey November Belfast, and I mean real rain not the namby pamby soft stuff, so by kick-off time the ground was saturated and puddles were forming across the pitch. Firemen fought to remove water from the pitch and a brave decision by the Dutch referee and Russian referee observer allowed the game to go ahead and the photographs of players splashing through the puddles are classics. Also classic was another David Healy wonder strike which followed his fellow Belfast Big Two manager’s (Warren Feeney) opener in our 2-1 victory. And the rain stopped at half-time and the pitch drained accordingly; what was wrong with that? A Danish official, exasperated by the conditions, referred to it as “water polo”, but such conditions make for exciting games. So let’s get right up to date and think about tonight’s match. Callum Marshall’s disallowed (eventually by VAR) effort in the last minute in Copenhagen earlier this year has set up things nicely. I do like the Danes, but of course I want us to win and the game to be exciting and full of thrills – or maybe just the former.

It was my first trip abroad after securing a job with the Irish Football Association. We stayed in Vejle in the north and played two matches against Denmark, flying into Billund Airport (where you would fly to if you were travelling to the original Legoland) from Southend on a rather shaky plane with propellers. Isn’t it funny how you remember some things? It was September and the trees were starting to turn into their autumnal gold and the town and its surroundings were strikingly clean and tidy. A couple of years later we were back in a similar autumn camp staying in the sports school in Vejle. Amongst that squad we had a tousle-haired dynamic midfielder with Reading, Brendan Rodgers, for whom injury would curtail his playing career and parachute him into coaching. Subsequently I have been to Copenhagen on a number of occasions. It’s a lively and vibrant city, filled with friendly and hospitable folk. Let’s be honest, what isn’t there to love about a capital city which has the historic Tivoli Gardens park in its centre? In footballing terms Northern Ireland have had many epic encounters with the Danes going back to 1978 when substitutes Derek Spence and Trevor Anderson scored in an exciting 2-1 victory notable for the fact that Spence injured himself when scoring and was subsequently replaced by Anderson and he scored the winner – maybe Danny Blanchflower was a coaching genius after all? In 1986 the Danes came to Belfast in a pre Mexico World Cup preparation match with stars of Liverpool and Manchester United - Jan Molby, Jesper Olsen and John Sivebaek - in their team alongside the wonderful Laudrup brothers.

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WORDS: LIAM BLACKBURN

THE COACH: DENMARK

Kasper Hjulmand has been Denmark’s national team coach since 2020 after previously coaching Lyngby, Nordsjaelland and Mainz.

He began his coaching career at the academy of Danish club Lyngby and eventually led the first team between January 2006 and July 2008. He would later move to Nordsjaelland, where he would be the assistant of former Dundee and Celtic midfielder Morten Wieghorst, who is now his assistant with the Danish senior team. When Wieghorst left to coach the Danish Under-21 team, Hjulmand landed the manager’s job and would lead Nordsjaelland to their first ever league title. In the following season’s UEFA Champions League group phase, Nordsjaelland were drawn against Shakhtar Donetsk, Juventus and Chelsea, and they managed a 1-1 draw with Juve at home. After impressing in his native Denmark, Bundesliga side Mainz appointed Hjulmand as the successor to Thomas Tuchel in 2014. Hjulmand’s Mainz were unbeaten for his first eight league games in charge, defeating Jurgen Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund during a run that saw them climb to third in the table. However, Mainz won only one of their next 13 and Hjulmand’s time with the club came to an end. Hjulmand returned to Nordsjaelland before it was announced he would replace Age Hareide as the Danish manager after Euro 2020.

But when that tournament was postponed, Hjulmand ended up coaching at the finals, leading the Danes to the semi-finals. An impressive UEFA Nations League campaign followed and though Denmark failed to make it out of their 2022 FIFA World Cup group they came into this window on a four-game winning streak. • Hjulmand’s playing career was cut short at 26 by a knee injury. Prior to that he had spent time playing college football for the North Florida Ospreys in America after a recommendation by Roy Hodgson. • Jurgen Klopp was extremely complimentary of Hjulmand after meeting him, saying: “[He is] an extremely likeable, pleasant guy, who left an outstanding impression on me. What we discussed about football tactics wasn’t just fun, it was sensational.” • Having won 29 of his first 45 games in charge of the national team coming into this international window, Hjulmand has the best win percentage of any Danish manager over the past century.

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THE SQUAD: DENMARK

WORDS: LIAM BLACKBURN

KASPER SCHMEICHEL GOALKEEPER ANDERLECHT (BEL) AGE 37 CAPS 97 GOALS 0 The son of Danish great Peter, Kasper spent much of his childhood in England and made the breakthrough at Manchester City before eventually becoming the number one at Leicester City, with whom he won a Premier League title. Spent last season in France with Nice and now plays in Belgium.

FREDERIK RØNNOW GOALKEEPER UNION BERLIN (GER) AGE 31 CAPS 8 GOALS 0

MADS HERMANSEN GOALKEEPER LEICESTER CITY

AGE 23 CAPS 0 GOALS 0 The current first choice goalkeeper with Leicester City, who came into this international window top of the EFL Championship table. Hermansen has been a regular in the Danish squads for these European Championship qualifiers.

The number one at Bundesliga club Union Berlin, with whom he has been playing in the Champions League this season. Played for AC Horsens and Brondby in his native country before moving to Germany, initially with Eintracht Frankfurt.

ANDREAS CHRISTENSEN DEFENDER BARCELONA (ESP)

JOAKIM MÆHLE DEFENDER WOLFSBURG (GER) AGE 26 CAPS 41 GOALS 10 Full-back who boasts an impressive goals tally at international level. Maehle began his career in Denmark with AaB, then went to Genk – with whom he won a title – and then Serie A side Atalanta before joining Bundesliga club Wolfsburg this August.

JANNIK VESTERGAARD DEFENDER LEICESTER CITY AGE 31 CAPS 35 GOALS 2 A 6ft 6ins centre back, Vestergaard has been a mainstay for a Leicester side who have had an impressive start to the season. He played in the Bundesliga for Hoffenheim, Werder Bremen and Borussia Monchengladbach, and also spent three seasons in the Premier League with Southampton. JESPER LINDSTRØM MIDFIELDER NAPOLI (ITA) AGE 23 CAPS 14 GOALS 1 Born into a Brondby-supporting family, he came through the ranks at his boyhood club and played for the senior team aged 18. Won the league title with Brondby in 2020-21. He moved to Eintracht Frankfurt, winning the Europa League with the club, and recently joined Napoli. AGE 25 CAPS 10 GOALS 0 Formerly of Danish sides Nordsjaelland and FC Copenhagen, Nelsson is now in his third season with Turkish club Galatasaray. Nelsson had only started one of the previous European Championship 2024 qualifiers for Denmark heading into this international window. VICTOR NELSSON DEFENDER GALATASARAY (TUR)

AGE 27 CAPS 66 GOALS 3 Ex-Chelsea defender who played most of the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League final when the Blues defeated Manchester City. Having made over 150 appearances for Chelsea, he moved to Barcelona last season and won a La Liga title. Two of his international goals have come at finals.

JOACHIM ANDERSEN DEFENDER CRYSTAL PALACE

RASMUS KRISTENSEN DEFENDER ROMA (ITA)

AGE 27 CAPS 27 GOALS 0 Centre back Andersen is in his fourth season in the Premier League after initially joining Fulham on loan before moving to Crystal Palace. The ex-Twente, Sampdoria and Lyon defender has represented Denmark at every level from Under-16 to the senior team.

AGE 26 CAPS 18 GOALS 0 Kristensen is currently on loan with Roma from parent club Leeds United, with whom he scored three Premier League goals last term. His former clubs include Midtjylland, Ajax and Red Bull Salzburg and he has won league titles in the Netherlands and Austria.

VICTOR KRISTIANSEN DEFENDER BOLOGNA (ITA)

JENS STRYGER LARSEN DEFENDER TRABZONSPOR (TUR)

AGE 20 CAPS 2 GOALS 0 A left back who moved to Leicester in January 2023. Kristiansen is on a season long loan with Serie A side Bologna. He initially made the breakthrough at FC Copenhagen, winning one league title with the club. Won his first cap in June in the Euro qualifier against Slovenia.

AGE 32 CAPS 54 GOALS 3 Having represented Denmark at various youth levels, Stryger Larsen scored on his senior debut in a 5-0 win over Liechtenstein in August 2016. He began his career with Brondby and later moved to Austria Wien and then Udinese in Italy. Now plays his club football in Turkey.

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THOMAS DELANEY MIDFIELDER ANDERLECHT (BEL)

PIERRE-EMILE HØJBJERG MIDFIELDER TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR AGE 28 CAPS 71 GOALS 7

MATHIAS JENSEN MIDFIELDER BRENTFORD AGE 27 CAPS 26 GOALS 1 A product of the Nordsjaelland academy, Jensen moved to La Liga side Celta Vigo in August 2018, but spent only one season in Spain before joining Brentford, with whom he won promotion to the Premier League. MATTHEW O’RILEY MIDFIELDER CELTIC AGE 22 CAPS 0 GOALS 0 English-born midfielder who played for the Three Lions at youth level but qualifies for Denmark through his mother. Represented the Danes at Under-21 level and won his first senior call-up last month. O’Riley has been in excellent form for Celtic this season.

CHRISTIAN NØRGAARD MIDFIELDER BRENTFORD AGE 29 CAPS 23 GOALS 1 Midfielder who has previously played for Hamburg in Germany, Danish club Brondby and Italian side Fiorentina. His current club manager at Brentford, Thomas Frank, coached Norgaard for the Danish youth teams and at Brondby. Made his international debut against England in September 2020. YUSSUF POULSEN FORWARD RB LEIPZIG (GER) AGE 29 CAPS 73 GOALS 12 Poulsen has made more appearances for RB Leipzig than any other player, having first joined the club in 2013 when they were in the third tier. He has since won two DFB Pokals. Debuted for Denmark back in 2013 and has scored for his country at World Cup and Euro finals. AGE 32 CAPS 73 GOALS 7 Central midfielder currently on loan with Belgian club Anderlecht from his parent club Sevilla. Delaney’s former clubs include FC Copenhagen, Werder Bremen and Borussia Dortmund. He has Irish roots and also could have represented the United States. MOHAMED DARAMY FORWARD REIMS (FRA) AGE 21 CAPS 8 GOALS 0 Became the youngest player to score a goal for FC Copenhagen when he netted at the age of 16 years and 263 days. Later moved to Ajax and now plays his club football in France with Reims. Daramy is of Sierra Leonean descent and made his debut for Denmark in September 2021.

Debuted for Bayern Munich as a 17-year-old, becoming the youngest player to ever feature for the German giants in the Bundesliga. Hojbjerg later moved to Southampton and was signed by then Spurs boss Jose Mourinho in 2020. He is a mainstay for club and country.

MORTEN HJULMAND MIDFIELDER

SPORTING LISBON (POR) AGE 24 CAPS 1 GOALS 0 Defensive midfielder who was with FC Copenhagen’s academy before moving to Austrian side Admira Wacker. After a spell with Lecce in Italy, he joined Portuguese club Sporting in August. Having represented Denmark at various youth levels, he won his first senior cap last month against San Marino. KASPER DOLBERG FORWARD ANDERLECHT (BEL) AGE 26 CAPS 41 GOALS 11 A former Ajax and Nice striker who has spent time on loan with Sevilla and Hoffenheim. Now playing club football in his sixth different country, Dolberg has been in excellent form for current club Anderlecht, scoring in six successive league games heading into this international window.

JONAS WIND FORWARD WOLFSBURG (GER)

AGE 24 CAPS 23 GOALS 8 The son of Per, a goalkeeper who also played for the national team, Jonas began his senior career with FC Copenhagen before moving to Wolfsburg in January 2022. Came into this international window with three goals in the Euro 2024 qualifiers, including the winner against Northern Ireland back in June.

ANDERS DREYER FORWARD ANDERLECHT (BEL) AGE 25 CAPS 2 GOALS 0

A right winger who has enjoyed something of a nomadic career, playing for two different Danish Superliga clubs as well as for teams in Russia, Scotland, the Netherlands and Belgium. He made his debut for Denmark in November 2021 against the Faroe Islands.

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ALL STATISTICS CORRECT PRIOR TO FRIDAY’S MATCH WITH FINLAND

FACT FILE: DENMARK

WORDS: LIAM BLACKBURN

• The Danes have been mainstays in both European Championship and World Cup finals since the mid-1980s, reaching the Euros in eight of the past 10 tournaments and the World Cup in five of the previous seven editions. • Despite this, they did not qualify for their first World Cup until 1986. This was initially due to the country opting to only play friendly matches or regional tournaments. Only amateurs were allowed to play for the national team until the early 1970s, which meant many of the country’s best players in that era moved abroad and never featured for the Red and Whites. • However, the transition to professionalism allowed the Danish national team to enjoy almost instant success as many of their players had benefitted from playing abroad. At Euro 1984, when Denmark reached the semi-finals, 14 of their 20-man squad played club football abroad, and at the World Cup in 1986 they had players from the champions of Italy, West Germany, England, Holland and Belgium in their ranks. • The game began to take notice of Denmark when they defeated eventual world champions Italy in the qualifiers for the 1982 World Cup. After drawing 2-2 with England in the Euro 1984 qualifiers, a famous win at Wembley – the only defeat Bobby Robson experienced in 28 qualifiers in charge of the Three Lions – helped the Danes top the group and reach the tournament in France. • Denmark reached the semi-finals of Euro 1984, losing on penalties to Spain, and it was at Euro 1992 under the coach Richard Moller Nielsen when they enjoyed their finest tournament to date. • Despite only learning that they would be competing in the finals just two weeks before the tournament began due to Yugoslavia’s suspension, the Danes stunned Europe by going on to win Euro 1992.

INTERNATIONAL • This will be the 13th meeting between Denmark and Northern Ireland, with the Danes winning five, losing twice and the teams drawing on five occasions. • The first meeting between the two countries occurred back in October 1978 in a European Championship qualifier when Danny Blanchflower’s team emerged victorious thanks to a late winner from Trevor Anderson. • Denmark exacted a measure of revenge the following year as Preben Elkjaer Larsen scored a hat-trick in a 4-0 triumph in Copenhagen. • The two countries were drawn together in qualifying for Euro 1992, with Denmark winning six of their eight games, including a 2-1 home success against Northern Ireland. However, a 1-1 draw in Belfast and a home defeat to Yugoslavia, who won seven of their eight games, meant they finished second in the group behind the Yugoslavians. • But sanctions placed on Yugoslavia after the outbreak of the Balkan war meant Denmark instead made the finals in Sweden and went on to win the tournament. • Denmark and Northern Ireland were drawn together again in qualifying for the 1994 World Cup, and it was in that group the Danes enjoyed their only victory in Belfast to date, a 1-0 success in November 1992. • It was against Denmark in November 2007 on a night of heavy rain in Belfast when David Healy scored a spectacular winner to become the record scorer in a European qualifying campaign. • Healy netted his 13th goal of that group with a delicious chip that completed Northern Ireland’s comeback after Warren Feeney had cancelled out Nicklas Bendtner’s opener.

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• A 0-0 draw with England and a 1-0 loss to hosts Sweden left Denmark on the verge of elimination from the group, but a 2-1 win over France in Malmo saw them make the semi-finals, where they defeated the Netherlands on penalties before a famous 2-0 victory over Germany in the final. • Although Denmark have failed to reach those heights in the years since, they did make it to the quarter-finals at the 1998 World Cup and the semi-finals at Euro 2020, when England needed extra time to knock them out. • There are 10 Danish players who have been capped by their national team on more than 100 occasions. Regular captain Simon Kjaer overtook the great Peter Schmeichel when he won his 130th cap against San Marino last month. • The joint top scorers for the Denmark national team are Niels Poul ‘Tist’ Nielsen, who scored a remarkable 52 goals in 38 games between 1910 and 1925, and current Blackburn Rovers manager Jon Dahl Tomasson, who accumulated the same number of goals across 112 internationals.

DOMESTIC

• The Danish Superliga is a 12-team competition that runs from July to May each season. • FC Copenhagen are the league’s most successful club, having won the title on 15 occasions, including in each of the previous two campaigns. • The league’s all-time top scorer is Morten ‘Duncan’ Rasmussen, who scored 145 goals across spells with AGF, Brondby, IF, AaB and FC Midtjylland. Rasmussen, who also had a short stint with Celtic, was nicknamed ‘Duncan’ due to his resemblance to the ex-Everton and Rangers striker Duncan Ferguson. • Rasmus Wurtz, who played 452 times for AaB, Copenhagen and Vejle, has made more appearances than anyone else in the Danish Superliga. • Former Northern Ireland goalkeeper Roy Carroll spent two seasons playing in the division with Odense BK. He kept a clean sheet on the same day he signed the deal, and was named the 2009 Superliga Goalkeeper of the Year. • FC Copenhagen have competed in the group phase of the UEFA Champions League in the past two seasons. In the current campaign they have faced Bayern Munich and Manchester United, beating Erik ten Hag’s men 4-3 earlier this month. • FC Copenhagen reached the last 16 of the 2010-11 Champions League and made the quarter-finals of the 2019-20 UEFA Europa League when they were eliminated by Manchester United. • Current managers in the Danish Superliga include ex-Manchester City striker Uwe Rosler, one-time Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers midfielder Per Frandsen and former Aston Villa defender Kent Nielsen.

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ALL STATISTICS CORRECT PRIOR TO FRIDAY’S MATCH WITH FINLAND

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SCOUTING REPORT Andy Greeves takes a closer look at Denmark ahead of this evening’s UEFA Euro 2024 qualifier in Belfast. LOWDOWN Prior to their top of the table clash with Slovenia in Copenhagen last Friday, Denmark were guaranteed at least a spot in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying play-offs. Victory in that game against the Slovenians - or indeed Kazakhstan failing to beat San Marino - would have sealed automatic qualification, however. The Danes were four points clear of third-placed Kazakhstan going into the final two rounds of Group H fixtures, which conclude tonight, and the top two nations qualify for the tournament. Denmark had won six, drawn one and lost just one of their first eight Group H fixtures. Their task of sealing qualification either last Friday or tonight was made more difficult with key squad members including captain Simon Kjær, Christian Eriksen, Robert Skov and Rasmus Højlund being absent through injury for this round of fixtures. Højlund was Group H’s top goalscorer after eight rounds of matches with seven goals. TACTICS Kasper Hjulmand has been Denmark national team manager since 2020 and he usually sets his side up in a fluid 4-3-3 formation. At least one of Denmark’s midfielders will operate as a deep-lying player, screening their back four, while they typically operate with

two wingers and only one out-and-out centre forward, meaning their formation appears more like a 4-2-3-1 or 4-1-2-2-1 in reality. The Danes are a pressing outfit and they look to overload central areas in their attempts to block opposition attacks and recover the ball successfully. This overload is achieved by both their full-backs pushing into more advanced positions and by their wide midfielders dropping deeper when they are not in possession. STRENGTHS While Simon Kjær’s absence tonight means there will be a personnel switch in Denmark’s usual backline, Hjulmand still has a wealth of defensive experience at his disposal. Son of UEFA Euro 1992 winner Peter Schmeichel, goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was just three caps short of a century of appearances for the national team prior to Denmark’s match against Slovenia on Friday. He has represented his country at four major tournaments to date and was a key member of the side which reached the semi-finals of the delayed UEFA Euro 2020. In front of him tonight is likely to be Barcelona central defender Andreas Christensen, who is a wonderful reader of the game and, at 6ft 2in, a dominant force in the air. His likely partner, Joachim Andersen, is also a towering presence at 6ft 4in and a ball-playing defender who is able to play either side of central defence and as a defensive midfielder. Both of Denmark’s full-backs play an important role in the team’s pressing style of play and also often join in their nation’s attacking moves. Joakim Mæhle and Rasmus Kristensen of VfL Wolfsburg and Roma respectively are likely to operate in those full-back positions this evening. The creativity of Christian Eriksen and goals of Rasmus Højlund will undoubtedly be a big miss for Denmark. However, Tottenham Hotspur’s Pierre-Emile Højbjerg – often regarded first and foremost as a defensive midfielder – has an

impressive drive and range of passing. RB Leipzig forward Yussuf Poulsen is an

excellent finisher and a player who is able to hold the ball up well and bring others into play.

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