Denmark are riding the crest of a wave heading into the World Cup.
They turned near-tragedy into the feel-good story of the summer with run to the Euro 2020 semi-finals after Christian Eriksen’s collapse, won nine out of nine before a dead-rubber defeat in qualifying and beat France twice in the recent Nations League.
Here’s everything you need to know about Denmark…
Coach: Kasper Hjulmand. Tactically versatile coach who has restored bond between national team and fans.
Captain: Simon Kjaer. Fine defender whose reputation soared for the way he dealt with aftermath of Eriksen’s collapse.
Star player: Christian Eriksen. Nothing sentimental in his recall, he was outstanding in the win over France in Paris in June.
One to watch: Andreas Skov Olsen. The 22-year-old Club Brugge winger’s emergence is one of the few changes from the side familiar from the Euros.
Odds to win: 30/1
World ranking: 10th
Best thing about them: A touch clichéd but Eriksen playing at a World Cup again after the horror of last summer will be genuinely remarkable.
Worst thing about them: Still cannot find a prolific centre-forward to spearhead a team with few other weak points.
Their prospects in three words: Everyone’s dark horses.
Fixtures (all times GMT)
November 22 vs Tunisia (1pm)
November 26 vs France (4pm)
November 30 vs Australia (3pm)
Squad in full
Goalkeepers: Kasper Schmeichel, Oliver Christensen.
Defenders: Simon Kjaer, Joachim Andersen, Joakim Maehle, Andreas Christensen , Rasmus Kristensen, Jens Stryger Larsen , Victor Nelsson, Daniel Wass.
Midfielders: Thomas Delaney, Mathias Jensen, Christian Eriksen, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
Forwards: Andreas Skov Olsen, Jesper Lindstrom, Andreas Cornelius, Martin Braithwaite, Kasper Dolberg, Mikkel Damsgaard, Jonas Wind
