The France team faces Denmark this Friday evening at the Stade de France (8:45 p.m.).
Euro 1992 winner
It is their highest feat of arms. In 1992, during the European championship, Denmark created the surprise. Drafted a few days before the start of the competition to replace Yugoslavia, excluded due to the war and the embargo imposed by the UN, the team led by Richard Møller Nielsen reached the last four by snatching second place in the group 1, behind Sweden, ahead neither more nor less than France and England. After eliminating the Netherlands on penalties (2-2, 5 pens to 4) in the semi-finals, the Danes beat the German ogre (0-2) – West Germany had won the 1990 World Cup – to lift the first continental trophy in its history. In addition, Denmark has another important title to its name: the 1995 Confederations Cup.
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A first official match against France
The Danish national team is one of the century-old selections of football. After joining Fifa in 1904, the Red and Whites took part in their first official match on October 19, 1908 at the London Olympics. A disputed meeting against the Blues…to whom they left no chance, crushing them with the score of 9 to 0. For the record, the two selections clashed again three days later. And the Danes took the opportunity to win their biggest success in their history (17-1).
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Kasper Schmeichel, in the name of the father
He is one of the legends of Danish football. Peter Schmeichel, former Manchester United goalkeeper, made history for his selection by winning Euro 1992 – with a decisive save in the semi-finals during the penalty shoot-out against the Netherlands – but also by holding, for the time being, the greatest number of appearances with the Red and White (129). But if his international career ended at the beginning of the century, in 2001, his son, Kasper Schmeichel took up his torch. Indeed, the current goalkeeper of Leicester City has been defending the colors of his country since 2013. He has 80 selections to his credit. Aged 35, it will probably be difficult for him to beat the record set by his father.
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No victory against the Blues for 20 years
Denmark has not won against the France team for twenty years. Their last victory dates back to June 11, 2002, during the group stage of the World Cup. The selection led by Morten Olsen then prevailed with the score of 2 goals to 0 thanks to the achievements of Dennis Rommedahl and Jon Dahl Tomasson. Since then, the Red and Whites and the Blues have faced each other four times. The Tricolores obtained three successes before conceding the draw on June 26, 2018, during the group stage of the 2018 World Cup.
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Christian Eriksen probably captain
The image had been terrifying. On June 12, 2021, during the Euro 2020 match between Denmark and Finland, Christian Eriksen collapsed on the lawn. Victim of a cardiac arrest, the attacking midfielder was saved by the rapid intervention of doctors. His career had been seriously compromised. But after having undergone an operation to have a defibrillator implanted, the former player of Ajax Amsterdam and Tottenham had the opportunity to return to the field this winter, on the side of Brentford. Last March, he also returned to selection. This Friday (8:45 p.m.), against the Blues of Didier Deschamps, he should be established. In Simon Kjaer’s absence, he is likely to wear the captain’s armband.