Denmark History

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Description

History
The Denmark national football team, governed by the Danish Football Association and affiliated to Europe’s UEFA, is one of the most successful football teams in the world. The history of football in Denmark dates back to early 20th century. The national team played its first international match on 19 October, 1908 against France, recording a remarkable 9-0 victory. The most memorable victory in the history of Danish football is the 17-1 win against France in October 1908. Denmark presently has 1,620 football clubs, 4,400 referees, and 3,04,674 registered players, including 1,98,658 youth players under 19.

Achievements
The national team’s first championship victory was the 1992 European Championship, where its qualification itself was very dramatic. The team trailed behind Yugoslavia in the qualification group and failed to qualify for the 1992 event. However the ban on Yugoslavia’s participation due to the Yugoslav wars gave Denmark entry into the 1992 European Championship. Under the guidance of coach Moller Nielsen and with star goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel the Denmark team progressed ahead of England and France. In the semifinals the team beat the Dutch and advanced to the finals. In the finals match Denmark beat Germany, the 1990 FIFA World Cup Champion, to win its first trophy. In the 1984 event Denmark reached the semifinals, and in the 2004 event it reached the quarterfinals.

Denmark has also competed in the FIFA World Cup events, the Confederations Cup, and the Summer Olympics. At the World Cup, Denmark did not participate during 1930-1954 and also in the year 1958. It reached the quarterfinals in 1998, the second round in 1986 and 2002, and failed to qualify in the years 1958, 1966-1982, 1994, and 2006. Denmark won the Confederations Cup in 1995 but failed to qualify in 1992 and during 1997-2005. Meanwhile, at the Summer Olympic Games the Denmark national football team has won 3 silver medals – in 1908, 1912, and 1960. It has also won the bronze medal in the 1948 Olympic Games.
 



 

About the Team

The Denmark national football team, nicknamed Danish Dynamite and Olsen Banden or The Olsen Gang, wears red shirts, white shorts, and red socks as its official uniform. The team is famous for its traveling fans who call themselves roligans. Just like the word rolig means calm in Danish, the roligans believe in calm and cheerful support to the team during the matches.

Several talented players have contributed to the success of Denmark in the sport of football. Some of such players are Vilhelm Wolfhagen, Bent Hansen, Nils Middelboe, Henning Enoksen, Paul Berth, Johnny Hansen, Lars Olsen, Kim Vilfort, Christian Poulsen, Daniel Agger, and Nicklas Bendtner. To recognize the contribution of the star football players, the Danish Football Association nominated 8 players in November 2006 for the Best Danish Footballer of All Times award. The nominees were Morten Olsen, Henning Jensen, Allan Simonsen, Preben Elkjaer, Michael Laudrup, Brian Laudrup, and Peter Schmeichel. Of these nominees, Michael Laudrup was voted by the Danish people for the award. The Danish Football Association also recognizes and awards the best national team players every year. It also awards the best player of its youth teams.

Stadium
Denmark’s national football stadium presently is the Parken Stadium, which is the biggest in Denmark with a capacity to seat 42,000 spectators. The Park Stadium, which has been used by the national team since September 1992, is the rebuilt Idraetsparken. Denmark played most of its domestic matches at Idraetsparken during the early 20th century. Currently Denmark also has various other football venues like the Brondy Stadium, NRGi Park, Aalborg Stadion, Fionia Park, Vejle Stadion, Essex Park Randers, and SAS Arena.
 



 

Additional Information

Alongside the men’s national team Denmark also has a women’s national team and an under-21 national men’s and women’s teams. There is also a league national team, also called the B-team.

The important leagues organized by the Danish Football Association in the men’s division include the SAS League, the Viasat Sport Division, the 2nd Divisions that consist of East and West groups, the Denmark Series, the Qualification series with 3 groups, and the national trophy cup called Landspokalturneringen. Similarly, in the women’s division the leagues organized by the Danish Football Association are the 3F League, 1st Division, the Denmark Series, and the 3F Cup.
 



 

Facts and Figures:

• Governing body – Danish Football Association
• Home stadium - Parken Stadium
• Men’s national team – Nicknamed Danish Dynamite, Olsen Banden (The Olsen Gang)
• Major tournaments – World Cup, European Championship, Olympic Games
• First international match – Against France in October 1908
• European Championship – Winners in 1992
• Confederations Cup – Winners in 1995
• Olympic Games – Silver in 1908, 1912, 1960; Bronze medal in 1948
• Other national teams – Women’s team, Under-21 team


 

World Cup

• 1930 to 1954 - Did not enter
• 1958 - Did not qualify
• 1962 - Did not enter
• 1966 to 1982 - Did not qualify
• 1986 - Round 2
• 1990 - Did not qualify
• 1994 - Did not qualify
• 1998 - Quarterfinals
• 2002 - Round 2
• 2006 - Did not qualify


 

European Championship

• 1960 - Did not qualify
• 1964 - Fourth place
• 1968 to 1980 - Did not qualify
• 1984 - Semifinals
• 1988 - Round 1
• 1992 - Champions
• 1996 - Round 1
• 2000 - Round 1
• 2004 - Quarterfinals
• 2008 - Did not qualify


 

Confederations Cup

• 1992 - Did not qualify
• 1995 - Winners
• 1997 to 2005 - Did not qualify


 

Summer Olympic

• 1900 - Was not invited
• 1904 - Was not invited
• 1906 - Did not enter/Winners[1]
• 1908 - Runners-up
• 1912 - Runners-up
• 1920 - First round
• 1924-1936 - Did not compete
• 1948 - Third place
• 1952 - Second round
• 1956 - Did not compete
• 1960 - Runners-up
• 1964 - Did not qualify
• 1968 - Did not compete
• 1972 - Quarter final
• 1976 - Did not qualify
• 1980 - Did not compete
• 1984 - Did not qualify
• 1988 - Did not qualify[12]


Squad

NamePositionGrade FansGroups
Dennis Rommedahl
Offense
16
0
Nicklas Bendtner
Offense
115
0
Thomas Løvendahl Sørensen
Goal
5
0
Lars Christian Jacobsen
Defense
2
0
Jakob Bendix Uhd Poulsen
Midfield
1
0
Simon Kjær
Defense
8
0
William Kvist Jørgensen
Defense
0
0
Last edited by:
On: December 08, 2009
Version: 10