Denmark lately has been getting more and more serious with every major international tournament. Their impressive run in the Euro 2021 and their still fresh win, over reigning champion France not once but twice in the UEFA Nations League, has made some analysts predict them to win the group despite the presence of Les Bleus.
For Denmark, this is their sixth time competing in the FIFA World Cup. On two occasions, the Danish side showed they can be among the favorites of the tournament; once in 1998 when they reached the quarterfinals and gave Brazil a tough duel before losing to them 3-2. Another was in 1986 when they won all three group stage games including a 2-0 victory over West Germany.
So will this world cup be the one where they are looking to beat their best record once again? And who are the players among the confirmed squad list of Denmark?
Denmark Squad For FIFA World Cup 2022
Position | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
---|---|---|---|---|
Goalkeeper | Kasper Schmeichel | Nice (FRA) | 35 | 86 |
Goalkeeper | Oliver Christensen | Hertha Berlin (GER) | 23 | 1 |
Defender | Andreas Christensen | Barcelona (SPA) | 26 | 58 |
Defender | Simon Kjaer | AC Milan (ITA) | 33 | 121 |
Defender | Jens Larsen | Trabzonspor | 31 | 49 |
Defender | Joachim Andersen | Crystal Palace (ENG) | 26 | 19 |
Defender | Victor Nelsson | Galatasaray (TUR) | 24 | 7 |
Defender | Rasmus Kristensen | Leeds United (ENG) | 25 | 10 |
Defender | Joakim Maehle | Atalanta (ITA) | 25 | 31 |
Midfielder | Daniel Wass | Brondby (DEN) | 33 | 44 |
Midfielder | Thomas Delaney | Sevilla (SPA) | 26 | 20 |
Midfielder | Christian Eriksen | Manchester United (ENG) | 30 | 117 |
Midfielder | Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg | Tottenham (ENG) | 27 | 60 |
Midfielder | Mathias Jensen | Brentford (ENG) | 26 | 20 |
Midfielder | Mikkel Damsgaard | Brentford (ENG) | 22 | 18 |
Midfielder | Jesper Lindstrom | Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) | 22 | 6 |
Forward | Jonas Wind | Wolfsburg (GER) | 23 | 15 |
Forward | Andreas Cornelius | Copenhagen (DEN) | 29 | 41 |
Forward | Andreas Olsen | Club Brugge (BEL) | 22 | 23 |
Forward | Martin Braithwaite | Espanyol (SPA) | 31 | 62 |
Forward | Kasper Dolberg | Sevilla (SPA) | 25 | 37 |
What Other Teams Are In the Denmark Group?
In the group stage, Denmark will be competing against the defending world champion, France in addition to Australia and Tunisia.
Denmark Group Fixtures
Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
Tue, Nov. 22 | Denmark vs. Tunisia | 8 a.m. | Education City Stadium |
Sat, Nov. 26 | France vs. Denmark | 11 a.m. | Stadium 974 |
Wed, Nov. 30 | Australia vs. Denmark | 10 a.m. | Al Janoub Stadium |
Why Denmark Will Cause Problems For France And The Other Heavyweights?
They are among the first underdogs who experts have predicted to run in deep at the world cup. They have always been the trickiest opponent, especially for the favorites. The Danes almost flawlessly adhere to their principles of high pressing, a jammed midfield, and an ability to kick off the lightning counter.
Eriksen’s prowess to read the movement is still intact. Also in recent times, Hojbjerg has been proving himself as more of an attacking threat than just a game controller in the center.
The Danish Dynamite had an equally fantastic run in the qualifiers winning ninety percent of their game with only a single loss. Amidst the competition within Europe for the qualification of Qatar, the Danes scored 30 goals in ten matches whilst conceding only three.
Having seen their recent records in international tournaments it shouldn’t come as a surprise if they manage to step over one of the traditional celebrity competitors and even reach the semi-final.
Denmark Strengths
Almost all of Denmark’s players being active in Europe’s top-level leagues has given the national team a multitude of experienced talents especially when it comes to tactical gameplay. On the field, their rigid organization is next to no other heavyweights.
Their manager, Hjulmand who has reputation for being meticulous and astute in the manner of ex-German coach and world cup winner, Joachim Low, is also one of the main reasons why they often have efficient match plans.
Denmark Weaknesses
One of their concerns heading into Qatar will be that they do not have that many converters in front of the goalpost. While their midfield is full of talented options and each with the abilities to be creative and become efficient in passing the ball forward, the man who should be capitalizing on them isn’t readily available. On top of that, winger Mikkel Damsgaard might still need some time to regain the momentum the one that he showed during Denmark’s semi-final run in the Euro 2020. One other main man that somehow doesn’t seem to be at his best is the team’s veteran shot-stopper, Kasper Schmeichel.