Group E / Dave Farrar / 14 May 2010 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

This class of 2010 may lack the guile, genius and class that the mid-80s team of Laudrup and Elkjaer possessed but this is an organised and resilient squad that Morten Olsen has here and they could go further than many would expect.

"The Danes have played in three World Cups, and got out of their qualifying group on each occasion, and now that the injury problems which have plagued the squad seem to have abated somewhat, they have every chance of at least getting to the last sixteen."

It's impossible to think of any Danish football team and not find yourself instantly transported back to the the glory days of Danish Dynamite, of Lerby and Laudrup, of Olsen and Elkjaer. It is one of the enduring ironies of Danish football history that the team which actually won the European Championship in 1992 was not the one that had so thrilled the football world.

A team based on the rigid philosophies of Richard Moller Nielsen had more success than one controlled by the touch and timing of Michael Laudrup. That should hearten this current Danish side, who are long on effort, and short on genius.

If history repeats itself, they could go far. The draw certainly gives the Danes a chance, and the fact that they qualified out of a section which contained both Portugal and Sweden shows that they are primed to make an impact here.

The Danes have played in three World Cups, and got out of their qualifying group on each occasion, and now that the injury problems which have plagued the squad seem to have abated somewhat, they have every chance of at least getting to the last sixteen. They have a good spine, although there's no Peter Schmeichel, but in front of whoever plays in goal they can name Agger, Jensen, Poulsen and Bendtner, all of whom have plenty of experience at the top level in Europe.

It worries me a little that players such as Jon Dahl Tomasson and Dennis Rommedahl, both of whom are on the wrong side of 30, still seem to be fixtures in the side, but they will be very well organised, technically good and disciplined, and if you presume that Holland finish top and Japan bottom, then it will be quite a fight between the Danes and Cameroon for the final qualifying spot, and I fancy the Danes to just snatch it.

COACH:

Morten Olsen

Olsen has been in charge of the national side for a decade now, and has enjoyed steady and unspectacular success. He was a legend as a player, and is only beaten by Michael Laudrup when the name of the greatest ever Danish footballer is discussed. He was a hugely versatile footballer, starting out as a winger and ending up as a sweeper, and that has helped his coaching career hugely, lending his methods a real Dutch influence. He had success at Ajax, and takes a big interest in the coaching at every Danish football age group, trying to build his country's future football style. Such is his interest in longer term projects that international football suits him rather better than day to day club involvement.

Key Players

Nicklas Bendtner

For a player who has now spent three seasons at Arsenal, and still not managed to get into double figures in terms of League goals, Bendtner carries an enormous reputation around. But he is only 22, and you can see why coaches like him. He's that rare example of a big framed player who is good enough to play the Arsenal way, and even though his finishing can sometimes let him down, he never hides if he has missed a chance. Having been an arrogant teenager, I also like the way that he deals with the media now. He's confident and self deprecating at the same time, and he could be set for a big World Cup.

Simon Kjaer

Palermo have enjoyed a remarkable Serie A season, and their centre half Simon Kjaer has been one of the main reasons behind their success. He's already been linked with a host of big clubs, and the only thing putting them off at the moment would appear to be a prohibitive price tag. Kjaer and Daniel Agger make great partners, with the younger Kjaer the cool organiser and Agger the aggressive ball winner. Kvist and Jacobsen either side of them give the defence a nice balance.

Thomas Sorensen

Danish fans will have everything crossed as Sorensen tries to get himself fit. There's precious little experience behind him, and with the backbone of the team looking so good, and the Danes looking primed for a big performance in South Africa, it would be desperately sad if they had to go there without their first choice goalkeeper.

Recommended Bet:

Back Denmark "Stage of Elimination" Quarter Finals @ [8.2]

Tags: Daniel agger, Danish footballers, Denmark World Cup team, Niklas Bendtner, World Cup tips