JOY AND PAIN FOR DANES
ALMOST 30 years on, Denmark’s 1992 European Championship triumph is still the stuff of folklore.
The Danes were given late entry into the eight-team finals at the expense of Yugoslavia, following the break-up of the country and ensuing Balkan war.
But, after stepping from the beach to make up the numbers in Sweden, Denmark created history – and their dramatic semi-final victory over Holland in Gothenburg was the greatest day of their football lives.
The fact Denmark reached the semi-final against the Dutch was astonishing after drawing their opening game against England and losing to Sweden. It meant they had to win their final group game against France – and they did, 2-1.
Even the Danes themselves had little expectation, with midfielder Kim Vilfort saying: “We couldn’t fail because there were no expectations.
“If we lost all three group games 5-0, then that wouldn’t have mattered. So, against France, we played without nerves because we thought we’d be going home.”
Vilfort was a central figure for Denmark that summer, but, sadly, for tragic reasons. His seven-year-old daughter Line was battling leukaemia and the Brondby star was only persuaded to join Richard Moller Nielsen’s squad after being assured she was responding well to treatment.
Vilfort returned home to his daughter after the France game and only went back to play against
Holland at her request.
The Dutch team was littered with world-class stars such as Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, Dennis Bergkamp, Frank Rijkaard and Frank de Boer and started the tournament among the favourites under boss Rinus ‘The General’ Michels, determined to defend their European title.
The Danes took a shock lead through Henrik Larsen, but Bergkamp levelled. Larsen grabbed a second before half-time, but Rijkaard forced extra-time with a last-gasp leveller.
Manchester United keeper Peter Schmeichel was defiant in extra-time and was the shoot-out hero, saving Van Basten’s kick before defender
Kim Christofte stepped up to send the Danes into the final against Germany.
Denmark’s fairytale reached its peak as they beat Germany 2-0, but, sadly, there was no happy ending for Vilfort as Line succumbed to leukaemia after the tournament.