DENMARK
FIFA Ranking: 36
The Danish national will be playing in their fourth World Cup when they take the field in South Africa this year. This will be their first major tournament after the 2004 European Championships. After missing out on Germany 2006 and the 2008 European C'ships, their hard work paid off as they qualified for the 2010 World Cup finishing above highly rated Portugal.
Denmark are a team who play more through their defence, which has proved to be effective. They played 10 matches in their qualifying campaign, winning six of them, drawing three and losing just one. Although the Dutch are considered to be the favourites in their group, the Danish Dynamites can spring a surprise or two, replicating their heroics of 1986.
The Manager
Morten Olsen, now in his tenth year as national coach, has lead the Danish team to two World Cups and a European Championship. He is already the second-most successful coach after the 1992 European Championship winning manager Richard Neilsen. The Danish team, or the Olsen gang as they are known, are the brain-child of the Olsen style or playing - a strong backline, a thin midfield and the attacking three up front.
The Squad
Goalkeepers
Thomas Sorensen, Stephan Andersen, Jesper Christiansen.
Defenders
Simon Kjaer, Daniel Agger, William Kvist, Lars Jacobsen, Per Kroldrup, Simon Poulsen, Patrick Mtiliga.
Midfielders
Christian Poulsen, Daniel Jensen, Jesper Gronkjaer, Martin Jorgensen, Thomas Kahlenberg, Jakob Poulen, Dennis Rommedahl, Thomas Enevoldsen, Christian Eriksen.
Forwards
Jon Dahl Tomasson, Nicklas Bendtner, Mikkel Beckmann, Soren Larsen.
Man To Watch
Jon Dahl Tomasson
The Danish captain has scored at the rate of a goal in every other appearance in his 13 years playing for the national team. His experience and his ability to link up with his midfielders and to barge past the oppossing defenders sets an example for the rest of the Danish player and makes Tomasson an ever-important player for the national team.
FP Verdict
Before the 2010 World Cup, Denmark have only qualified thrice for the tournament, but have progressed past the group stage on every occasion. As they topped their qualfication group ahead of Portugal, Denmark have been termed as the dark horses of the tournament. With the likes of Netherlands, Cameroon and Japan in their group and currently in a good run of form, Denmark might just make the cut to the Round of 16. A group stage exit will certainly be a poor result for the Olsen Gang.
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