The Red and White Dynamite are back on the continent's biggest stage. Just three years after falling short at the penultimate hurdle, the Denmark Euro 2024 squad is ready to do battle again after negotiating their latest qualifiers.
It'll take a lot for the current crop to emulate Denmark's Heroes of 1992. Denmark are 28/1 outsiders to win Euro 2024, making it a tough task for them to do so. Those odds make them ninth-favourites for the crown, but belief will still be high in the camp after the success of the previous Euros.
The story behind the Heroes of 92
The Danes originally failed to qualify for Euro 1992, but won a place in the tournament thanks to Yugoslavia's disqualification. They advanced from a group that included hosts Sweden and the more-fancied France and England, before beating 1988 holders the Netherlands in the semis and Germany in the final.
Denmark have qualified again for the Euros this time around, securing their place at Euro 2024. There can be many comparisons made between the two sides, including the fact that Peter Schmeichel, who played in goal for the Danes in 1992, sees his son Kasper play in the same position for the national team today. Nonetheless, we compare some of the stars from both sides, and whether Denmark's team today can replicate the success of 1992.
Denmark Euro 2024 squad best players vs Heroes of 92 – Key battles
Peter Schmeichel v Kasper Schmeichel
First up is an intriguing battle of Father vs Son. Peter was one of the best goalkeepers of his generation, winning the Euros with Denmark before securing five Premier League titles with Manchester United, and the coveted treble in 1998/99 which also included the FA Cup and UEFA Champions League.
Kasper is still playing at the age of 37, in Belgium with Anderlecht. Like his father, he has won a Premier League title – perhaps part of the greatest achievement in sporting history as 5000/1 outsiders Leicester City lifted the crown in 2015/16. He won his 98th cap for Denmark in their recent 2-1 win against Slovenia in qualifying, and is 31 caps behind his father's 129.
Verdict: Peter Schmeichel
Henrik Larsen v Christian Eriksen
Larsen was the joint-top scorer of the 1992 Euros with three goals from midfield, including a brace in the semi-final against the Netherlands. He earned 39 caps for his country, scoring five goals in total, and played the majority of his club football in Denmark, memorably winning the Danish Superliga with Lyngby Boldklub in 1991/92. That remains the club's latest top-flight triumph to date.
Meanwhile, Eriksen is regarded as one of Denmark's greatest-ever modern players, and has won 126 caps, scoring 40 goals. He was part of the squad that reached the Euro 2020 semi-finals, but unfortunately suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch in one of the group games, and could play no further part in the tournament. Eriksen won the Carabao Cup with Man United last season, and has won other major silverware with Ajax and Inter Milan in the Netherlands and Italy respectively.
Verdict: Christian Eriksen
Brian Laudrup v Rasmus Hojlund
Laudrup was a great talent who played for a number of top clubs in Europe. The forward was part of Denmark's 1992 Euros winning squad, and earned 82 caps for his country, scoring 21 goals. He played for European giants Bayern Munich at club level during the tournament, and also won the Serie A and UEFA Champions League with AC Milan in 1993/94.
Hojlund is a rising starlet in the country who secured a big-money move to Man United this summer at just 20 years of age. He has netted five times for them in the Champions League this season, and is the competition's joint-top scorer. Hojlund has also scored seven goals for Denmark in Euro 2024 qualifying, including a hat-trick in their opening group match against Finland.
He is yet to score in the Premier League, but is certainly one who could replicate Laudrup's success over his career.
Verdict: Brian Laudrup
