GREAT DANES
When Denmark ruled
AS WE know only too well, Germany don’t lose very often. Sure, they have their down times, but they very rarely lose to an underdog. The European Championship final of 1992 was one such exception. Denmark beat Germany 2-0 – and it was a fairytale story as the Danes only received a late call to enter the tournament.
Richard Moller Nielsen had stepped up from being assistant manager and his first job was to qualify for the Euros.
They beat the Faroe Islands and then drew in Northern Ireland before a 2-0 loss against Yugoslavia.
That defeat would sting. There was a disagreement between the coach, who wanted to play a more defensive set-up, and some players.
It caused the two best players at the time, the Laudrup brothers, Michael and Brian, to quit. There were also disciplinary problems.
The national media were calling for Nielsen’s head.
Despite this, Denmark won the rest of their five matches, including a 2-1 win against Yugoslavia. However, this winning streak wasn’t enough - Denmark finished second to Yugoslavia and appeared to have missed out on the Euros.
However, due to international sanctions from the Yugoslav wars, UEFA ex
pelled Yugoslavia from the competition.
That was on May 21, 1992, just days before the competition. It meant a reprieve for the likes of Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, one of the best in the world, and Brian Laudrup, who had decided to come back to the team in April of the same year.
Denmark certainly made the most of their unexpected chance and qualified alongside hosts Sweden from Group 1.
They drew 0-0 with Graham Taylor’s England and lost 1-0 to Sweden, but then beat France 2-1 in the final game to take runners-up spot. Henrik Larsen and sub Lars Elstrup were on target for the Danes, with Jean-Pierre Papin netting etting for France.
With just eight teams in the finals, nals, that put Denmark through to the e semi-finals, where they shocked holders Holland.
Larsen scored twice in the first st half, sandwiching a goal from Dennis Bergkamp, and it looked as through Denmark had it won.
However, Frank Rijkaard levelled with just four minutes left to take it to extra-time.
With the sides still all-square after the extra 30 minutes, it went to penalties. Schmeichel saved Marco van Basten’s spotkick as the Danes kept their nerve to triumph 5-4. That put them into the final against the reunified Germany, competing in their first major tournament. Schmeichel saved well from Stefan Reuter before Denmark took the lead in the 18th minute from an unexpected source.
Flemming Povlsen picked up a loose ball and played it to John Jensen in the penalty area. The midfielder smashed the ball into the net for just his second goal in 48 internationals.
Jensen almost scored again after connecting with a Brian Laudrup corner, but Bodo Illgner saved. Germany had plenty of chances to score an and a majority of the possession but the Danish defence was adept ade at blocking them out. Jurge Jurgen Klinsmann had an opportun opportunity late in the match to level th things, but Schmeichel thwarted h him.
It looke looked as though a goal was coming, but, ironically, it was the Danes w who scored it. In t the 78th minute, Kim Vilfort took the ball away from ski skipper Andreas Brehme an and Thomas Helmer, and fir fired his shot goalwards. It bounced in off the post an and Denmark, against all th the odds, were champio ons of Europe.