NI v Denmark(20/11/2023)

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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NIR V DEN

ALL STATISTICS CORRECT PRIOR TO FRIDAY’S MATCH WITH FINLAND