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Denmark - Team Fact Sheet
10 Cool Facts about the Danish Football Team
When you think of Denmark, you think of hardy seafaring Vikings who raided and pillaged their way across lands and seas. You think of Hans Christian Andersen and his wonderful fairy tales. And you think of yummy Danishes (then head to the bakery).
Well, this little nation of 5 million, which was recently voted "the happiest in the world", is ticked off that it hasn't won the World Cup yet! These great Danes are almost ready to give up their high taxes and socialized medicine just so they can take home first prize.
So keep an eye out for the red and white uniforms of Denmark in 2010. The Danish squad has had some success in years past and they just might sneak in with another Viking conquest.
Here's the top 10 facts you need to know about the Danish football team:
10. The Denmark squad is nicknamed Danish Dynamite, Olsen Banden (The Olsen Gang) & Olsens Elleve (Olsen's Eleven). These last two are playful references to the long-time coach, Morten Olsen.
9. Denmark's first World Cup appearance was in 1986. After sweeping their group in the First Round, they were stomped by Spain 5-1 in the Round of 16.
8. The Danes won the European Championships in 1992. Incredibly, they had initially failed to qualify, falling just behind Yugoslavia. But due to war in the Balkans, the Yugos were banned from the tournament, so Denmark went and took down reigning World Cup Germany 2-0 in the final. Awesome.
7. Denmark has had the same coach, Morten Olsen, for 10 years. He's the longest consecutive serving coach for a national side in the 2010 World Cup. He's got a wonderful reputation in Denmark.
6. The Danish are captained by John Dahl Tomasson, a striker who's played all over Europe and is now with Dutch team Feyenoord. He's just one goal away from tying the Danish all-time scoring record. Now's the time John!
5. Poul "Tist" Nielsen is Denmark's top scorer with 52 goals, just one ahead of current captain John Dahl Tomasson. He played way back in the day, from 1919-1925. He played in the Olympics but never in the World Cup.
4. Peter Schmeichel has the most caps for Denmark with 129. Considered one of the best goalkeepers of all time, Schmeichel spent most of the '90s helping Manchester United rack up tons of trophies.
3. FIFA ranked Denmark 27th before the 2010 World Cup, a far cry from the number 3 status they achieved in 1997. But they've been moving up the rankings from a low of 38 in early 2009. They may peak at just the right time.
2. Denmark has won 3 Silver Medals at the Olympics in 1908, 1912 and 1960. So close guys, so close.
1. Denmark won the 1995 Confederations Cup by beating defending champions Argentina 2-0. Held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, it was called the King Fahd Cup, but renamed by FIFA the Confederations Cup. It was a scorcher!
