The Spanish soccer team is preparing to face Denmark this Saturday in a crucial UEFA Nations League match. The Danes, known for their defensive solidity and collective play, represent an important challenge for Luis de la Fuente’s team. Below, we highlight five key points about the Danish team that could influence the outcome of the match:
Before their surprising victory at Euro 1992, Denmark already had a European tournament. A Danish team won the Intertoto Cup in 1967. This tournament, usually played in the summer between European teams, was one of the first international trophies lifted by a Danish team, an achievement little remembered today.
Denmark was a pioneer in integrating sponsors into national team jerseys. In 1979, the Danes were the first team to wear a sponsor on their shirt during international matches, something that was highly criticized at the time, but which set precedents.
In the 1912 Olympic Games, Denmark surprised the world by beating the then world champions, the German national team, with an amateur team made up mostly of volunteers who trained part-time, reaching the Olympic final.
Peter Schmeichel, one of the legends of Danish football, played international matches in three different decades (1987-2001). In addition to his longevity, he is remembered for being one of the few goalkeepers who managed to score goals for his team, something that very few in his position have achieved.
Denmark qualified for Euro 1984 thanks to its “Fair Play” record. In the qualifiers, they tied on points and goal difference with England, but made it through due to having received fewer cards. This allowed them to reach the semi-finals, where they impressed Europe with their attacking football.
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