Page 17 - Soccer360 Issue 106

NICKNAME: RED AND WHITES S360 PREDICTION | 10TH PLACE
GROUP C - UEFA EURO 2024
FACTFILE
POPULATION:
5.9 million
EURO FINALS APPEARANCES: 9
BEST FINISH:
Winners, 1992
MOST MEMORABLE EUROS MOMENT: Winning Euro 1992 despite initially failing to qualify.
HOW THEY GOT TO EURO 2024: Overcame a slow start to finish top of their group with seven wins from 10.
LAST EUROS APPEARANCE: 2020 - Reached the semi-finals before losing to England in extra time.
MOST CAPPED PLAYER: Simon Kjaer, 131 caps
LEADING INTERNATIONAL SCORER: Poul Nielsen and Jon Dahl Tomasson , 52 goals
HOW TO FOLLOW:
JON DAHL TOMASSON
VS SLOVENIA VS ENGLAND VS SERBIA JUNE 16TH JUNE 20TH JUNE 25TH 12:00PM | EST 12:00PM | EST 3:00PM | EST
FIFA RANKING 21ST
DENMARK
After their poor showing at the 2022 World Cup, Stephen Donovan asks if Denmark can rediscover the form that carried them to the semi-finals of Euro 2020 in their latest tournament outing.
EURO APPEARANCES: 9
EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1
THEIR BEST THREE EUROS
1992
2020
1984
1ST
4TH
2ND
UEFA EURO OVERALL RECORD PLD:33 W:10 D:6 L:17
THE COACH:
KASPER HJULMAND
Now entering his third major tournament in charge of Denmark since being appointed
in 2020, Kasper Hjulmand is a passionate figure on the touchline and is under pressure to oversee a positive campaign after the anti-climax of the 2022 World Cup. His main task is to find a system that gets the best out of a squad full of energy and attacking intent without stifling the creativity of playmaker Christian Eriksen.
KEY PLAYER:
RASMUS HOJLUND
Despite an occasionally tricky first season in the Premier League with Manchester United, young striker Rasmus Hojlund has shown enough to suggest that he’s ready to become a world class finisher. His pace and ability
to run in behind defences gives Denmark something extra in attack that they haven’t had in years, with the 21-year-old already hitting seven goals in 12 international caps.
DYNAMIC DANES
It is hard to know what to expect from Denmark as they arrive in Germany after contrasting results at the past two major finals. At Euro 2020 they defied the odds
to overcome main man Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest in the opening match by reaching the semi-finals with a series of eye-catching performances, before an outstanding qualifying campaign ahead
of the 2022 World Cup had them widely regarded as dark horses in Qatar, only to fall completely flat and finish bottom of their group with just a single point.
This time they going in under the radar, which might just suit them better, and if they can produce anything close to what they are capable of, Kasper Hjulmund’s side will be very dangerous opponents indeed. On paper they have a well-balanced squad with good players in every position, posing a threat with their pacy wing-backs and the technical ability of Christian Eriksen and Matthias Jensen in midfield. Meanwhile, Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund could emerge as one of the stars of the tournament.
This time around performances in qualifying were unspectacular, but the Red and Whites came through to finish top of their group ahead of Slovenia, who by coincidence are their opening Euro 2024 opponents. A good result there could set the scene for a strong run in the competition, with Denmark aiming to make at least the quarter-finals.
PROBABLE STARTING XI
POULSEN
MAEHLE
HOJLUND
WIND
STRYGER
HOJBJERG
ERIKSEN
NELSSON
KJAER
SCHMEICHEL
CHRISTENSEN
SOCCER360 SUMMER 2024 15