Each day between May 10 and the day before the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup on June 11, FoxSoccer.com analyst Jamie Trecker will preview each of the 32 teams playing in South Africa and tell you everything you need to know about each nation represented at the world's greatest sporting event.
Country: Denmark
Nickname: None. They were called “Danish Dynamite” back in the 1980s.
In his most recent book, “Soccernomics,” Simon Kuper argues persuasively that, despite the angst of English fans, their national team actually punches above its weight. Using that analogy, Denmark is akin to a flyweight rumbling through the heavyweight division.
A tiny nation of just about 5.5 million people total, Denmark is one of the most successful and least troubled countries on earth. You wouldn't think it, given how cold and dark the place can be, but the Danes are a remarkable people, and Denmark is a pretty incredible place.
The southernmost of the Nordic nations, Denmark has a rich recorded history dating back to at least 12,500 BC. Once part of the people known as the Vikings, the Danes were (and remain) expert sailors and explorers, controlling vast trade routes and operating in spheres of influence that some say may have touched the Americas pre-Columbus.
A founding member of the European Union -- but not part of the Euro zone -- Denmark today is a place that would give some of our resident ideologues fits. It is considered the friendliest place to do business in the world, and is one of the largest welfare states. Poverty is not the issue it is in many other European countries. And the people seem pretty happy.
The Danish soccer team, as mentioned, is a heavy hitter despite lacking the population so many other nations enjoy. They have been a consistent European power since the 1980s and contribute a lot of very good players to leagues around world. Because they are a team without many stars, they play a total team style, making them very difficult to play against regardless of how their fortunes are faring.
Perennial dark horses, the Danes are one of the teams to keep an eye on in South Africa.
PAST WORLD CUP SUCCESS: This is their fourth World Cup. Best showing was in France in 1998 when they got to the quarters and lost 3-2 to Brazil in a barnburner.
REGIONAL SUCCESS: They won the European Championship in 1992 and were semifinalists in 1984. They didn't qualify in 2008. They also won the inaugural Confederations Cup back in 1995.
LEAGUE OVERVIEW: The Danish Superligaen is a second-tier league in Europe. It's the wealthiest and most competitive of the Scandinavian leagues, and it's been home to a few Americans as well. Currently contested by 12 teams, the top clubs are Brondby, Copenhagen and AaB. The top four teams used to compete in the now-defunct, pan-Scandanavian Royal League.
MANAGER: Morten Olsen. Olsen is one of the longest-tenured managers for a major side; he's been on board since 2000. He successfully guided Brondby and Ajax to championships in Denmark and Holland, respectively. He plans to step down afer the World Cup, and is expected to return to the club ranks.
KEY PLAYERS: Daniel Agger (Liverpool) is the hard man in the middle, and probably the most familiar name to American fans, but the key man is young striker Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal), who, at just 22, is the team's top playmaker and scorer. Arsenal fans find him frustrating, but he's been great with the national team. The aging duo of Jesper Gronkjaer (Copenhgaen) and Jon Dahl Tomasson (Feyenoord) are likely to trade time running alongside him. Young defender Simon Kjaer (Palermo) is an up-and-comer. He's tall and tough, and has really excelled. Goalkeeping is a worry: Thomas Sorensen (Stoke) is injured (dislocated elbow) but has said he will be fit. We'll see. Since the Danes don't have a credible backup -- Stephan Andersen (Brondby) looks undercooked -- their fans are praying Sorensen is all right.
FIFA RANKINGS: 34th. Highest was 3rd (1997) and lowest was 38th.
FIRST ROUND OPPONENTS: Cameroon, Japan, Netherlands
HEAD TO HEAD AGAINST CAMEROON: They've played Cameroon twice, and won once. In 2001, Denmark won in Copenhagen 2-1. Three years prior, Cameroon won by the same score, also in Copenhagen.
HEAD TO HEAD AGAINST JAPAN: They've met once, back in 1971. Denmark won 3-2 in a Copenhagen friendly.
HEAD TO HEAD AGAINST NETHERLANDS: They play each other all the time, going all the way back to 1914. Overall, they're 6-10-11 against the Dutch. Key games: The Danes beat Holland on kicks in 1992 en route to the European title. In 2000, Holland got revenge in the group stage, 3-0. Most of their meetings are friendly, with the most recent exhibition in 2008, when the sides drew 1-1 in Eindhoven.
HOW THEY QUALIFIED: In shocking fashion. They took out both Portugal and Sweden to come in first in their group.
PERCENTAGE CHANCE TO PROGRESS: 40%. Hey, Holland is tough, but the Danes can play them. Cameroon is very good, and they are expected to get the African boost. But don't count Denmark out. They are very hard to beat, and if they can clip points from the Dutch and beat the Japanese, they should go through in a group where goal-difference may come into play.
TO WATCH: Kjaer is the player of the future; he could get signed by an English club post-tournament. But watch to see if defenses can contain Bendtner. In England, he got -- and missed -- a slew of chances, but the fact he can carve out space against some of the world's best defenders on a weekly basis should give the Danish fans a lot of hope.
ROSTER
Goalkeepers: Thomas Sorensen (Stoke), Jesper Christiansen (FC Copenhagen), Kim Christensen (IFK Goteborg), Stephan Andersen (Brondby)
Defenders: Daniel Agger (Liverpool), Lars Jacobsen (Blackburn), Patrick Mtiliga (Malaga), Per Kroldrup (Fiorentina), Simon Busk Poulsen (AZ Alkmaar), Simon Kjaer (Palermo), William Kvist Jorgensen (FC Copenhagen), Leon Jessen (FC Midtjylland), Anders Moller-Christensen (OB Odense)
Midfielders: Christian Poulsen (Juventus), Christian D. Eriksen (Ajax), Daniel Jensen (Werder Bremen), Jakob Poulsen (Aarhus), Michael Silberbauer (FC Utrecht), Mikkel Beckmann (Randers), Thomas Enevoldsen (FC Groningen), Thomas Kahlenberg (Wolfsburg), Dennis Rommedahl (Ajax), Jesper Gronkjaer (FC Copenhagen), Martin Jorgensen (Aarhus), Michael Krohn-Dehli (Brondby), Mikkel Thygesen (FC Midtjylland)
Forwards: Jon Dahl Tomasson (Feyenoord), Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal), Soren Larsen (Duisburg), Morten Rasmussen (Celtic)
TOMORROW'S TEAM: Ghana
