Against All Odds: Denmark's Euro 1992 Triumph Quiz

Answer: They replaced a team that had been banned from the tournament

Denmark were placed into Group 4 of qualification alongside Yugoslavia, Northern Ireland, Austria and the Faroe Islands. Despite a very successful campaign which saw the Danes win six of their eight qualifiers, they finished a point behind Yugoslavia and only group winners qualified for the 8-team tournament.

However, it appears luck was on Denmark's side. The Yugoslav wars broke out in March 1991 and by spring of 1992, the fighting in Bosnia and Herzegovina had become so intense and bloody that the United Nations passed Security Council Resolution 757 in May, condemning the Yugoslav authorities for failing to stop the conflict. Just a day after the resolution was passed, FIFA and UEFA suspended Yugoslavia from competitive football and Denmark took their spot.

Answer: Spain

The UEFA Executive Committee had a choice between Sweden and Spain when it came to hosting Euro 1992. While Spain had/has considerably more footballing heritage than Sweden, they had already been chosen to host EXPO 1992 and the 1992 Summer Olympics so Sweden was seen as a fairer choice. Spain had also fairly recently hosted the 1982 FIFA World Cup.

It was a moment of novelty for Sweden, a country that had not hosted an international tournament since 1958 and had never competed in the European Championship finals before.

Answer: Richard Moller Nielsen

Moller Nielsen had held the position since April 1990. His time at the top post before Euro 1992 was divisive at best with Brian and Michael Laudrup, the two best Danish footballers at the time, opting to quit the national team in November 1990. Moller Nielsen also caused controversy when he dropped players such as Jan Molby and Jan Heintze from the team for disciplinary reasons.

Nielsen's stoic defensive tactics, combined with world-class goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel and a creative spark in Brian Laudrup (who returned in April 1992) helped to make Denmark a surprisingly dangerous team.

Answer: 13

Lyngby and Brondby both supplied four players, with Kim Christofte, John Jensen, Mogens Krogh and Kim Vilfort from Brondby and Henrik Larsen, Torben Frank, Claus Christiansen and Peter Nielsen from Lyngby all making the squad. Kent Nielsen (Aarhus), Johnny Molby (Vejle), Lars Elstrup (Odense), Torben Piechnik (Boldklubben 1903) and Morten Bruun (Silkeborg) all made the cut as well.

Denmark's seven players from non-Danish clubs were Peter Schmeichel (Manchester United), John Sivebaek (Monaco), Lars Olsen (Trabzonspor), Henrik Andersen (FC Koln), Flemming Povlsen (Borussia Dortmund), Brian Laudrup (Bayern Munich) and Bent Christensen Arensoe (Schalke).

Answer: 188 minutes

Denmark's strength at Euro 1992 was built upon solid defensive foundations that made up for a lack of goalscoring ability. The team played a goalless draw against England in the first game before losing 1-0 to Sweden.

Denmark did not register a goal until the 8th minute of their third game against France, with Henrik Larsen scoring the long-awaited goal. Needing to win to go through, Denmark went on to win the game 2-1.

Answer: Lars Elstrup

Denmark had only one point from their first two games, having drawn with England and losing to Sweden. After two games, Denmark were bottom of Group 1 and had to beat France to have any hope of going through. Larsen scored the game's first goal in the 8th minute, but Ballon d'Or winner Jean-Pierre Papin leveled the match for the French on the hour. Desperately needing a goal, Elstrup provided the moment of inspiration in the 78th minute, sending the Danish fans into ecstasy and the team into the knockout phase.

Denmark ultimately finished second in Group 1 on 3 points. (The three points for a win rule was not introduced in international football until the 1994 World Cup). Sweden won the group on 5 points while France and England were eliminated after earning only two points each.

Answer: Marco van Basten

The game was a thoroughly entertaining affair, with Denmark leading twice thanks to goals from Henrik Larsen. However, both times the Danes were unable to keep their lead after Bergkamp and Rijkaard netted for the Dutch. The game ended 2-2 after regulation time.

After extra-time produced no more goals, the game went to a penalty shootout. After Ronald Koeman and Henrik Larsen scored the opening penalties, van Basten's effort was saved by Peter Schmeichel. That would be the only penalty miss in the shootout as goals from Flemming Povlsen, Lars Elstrup, Kim Vilfort and Kim Christofte sent the rank outsiders to the final.

Answer: John Jensen and Kim Vilfort

The game started with dominance from the Germans, with Peter Schmeichel forced into making impressive saves after efforts from Stefan Reuter and Guido Buchwald. Despite the early German pressure, Denmark took the lead in the 18th minute after Povlsen pulled a ball back to Jensen just inside the penalty area, with Jensen sending the ball into the top corner.

Germany continued to pressure the underdogs in the second half but failed to create many clear opportunities. At one point, an impressive Jurgen Klinsmann effort forced a brilliant save from Schmeichel. 12 minutes from time, Vilfort made a run, taking the ball around Andreas Brehme (the German captain) and defender Thomas Helmer before his effort bounced off the post and into the net. Denmark won the game 2-0, shocking the world.

Answer: Tomas Brolin

The four players to score three goals at Euro 1992 were Henrik Larsen, Tomas Brolin, Karl-Heinz Riedle and Dennis Bergkamp. Rijkaard registered two goals in the tournament, scoring in the Netherlands' 3-1 win over Germany in the group stage and the late equaliser in the team's eventual loss to Denmark in the semi-finals.

Klinsmann only scored once in the tournament, netting Germany's goal in the loss to the Netherlands. France's group stage exit harmed Papin's chances of winning the golden boot but he still scored twice, registering both of Les Bleus' goals in the tournament.

Answer: 2

The two Danish players to be selected were Peter Schmeichel and Brian Laudrup. While this may seem low, it adds great testament to the incredible team effort behind Denmark's European triumph.

The team in its entirety was Peter Schmeichel (Denmark), Jocelyn Angloma (France), Laurent Blanc (France), Andreas Brehme (Germany), Jurgen Kohler (Germany), Brian Laudrup (Denmark), Stefan Effenberg (Germany), Thomas Hassler (Germany), Ruud Gullit (Netherlands), Dennis Bergkamp (Netherlands) and Marco van Basten (Netherlands).