European Cup is indeed a potential ground for surprising team win to occur. Interstate European tournaments are relatively friendly for some contestants who are underestimated as champions. In the last edition, Portugal won without even winning in the group stage. Interrupted by a moth in the final match determined by a one-hit wonder named Nene. While superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was injured in the middle of the match, then took control of the team by acting like the main coach. That was the way the Selecao das Quinas won their first elite trophy.
While at the 2004 European Cup, Greece was famous thanks to the defense of the deadlock. Always win 1-0 in the knockout phase for champions. The pinnacle of the land of the gods. The culminating point of Otto Rehaggel’s pragmatic soccer. Who would have thought, they won the European Cup earlier than the inventor of modern soccer, England.
Far back, spectacular surprises occurred at the 1992 European Cup. Taking place in Sweden, the eight best nations competed in the tournament finals. There is a defending Dutch champion complete with Marco van Basten’s volley kick four years earlier.
While Germany wants to prove itself, because it has just experienced unification. In contrast, the Soviet Union just broke up recently and competed under the banner of the CIS (Commonwealth of Nations). France is in the era of Eric Cantona. England’s arrival of young blood on Alan Shearer. Also Scotland who glimpsed the glory with Gary McAllister.
However, the Yugoslav flagship team failed to leave due to civil war. Predrag Mijatovic, et al. can only bite the fingers and keep wishing. Their squad is entering a golden period, after the Young World Cup champions in 1987. The country broke up, split into several new countries.
Denmark takes Yugoslavia’s ration. Scandinavian countries finish below them by a point difference during qualifying group stage. Only 11 days from the tournament, Denmark prepared itself. Rumors circulated, some Danish players were actually relaxing on the beach when they learned of this impromptu participation.
In less than two weeks, De rød-hvide (The Red and White) must form a team. In a short period, Denmark still had a chance to compete with the CIS. They are minus the team’s best player, Michael Laudrup, who chose to retire from the national team since the qualifying round. His younger brother, Brian Laudrup, also resigned. Brian finally decided to return to the team for the tournament finals. The Laudrup brothers have lost their appetite since the national team was coached by its Head Coach, Richard Moeller Nielsen.
The first two games they did not see win. Draw with England and cluck from Sweden. The last match against France, they could have considered the last wind. “We cannot (be considered) a failure, because there is indeed no expectation whatsoever. “If we lose 0-5 three times, it’s actually not a problem either,” midfielder Kim Vilfort told the BBC.
Vilfort just doesn’t play in the duel versus Les Blues. He had to go back to Copenhagen, because his seven-year-old son Line was sick with Leukemia. Goddess Fortuna intervenes in Danish fate. France they bowed 2-1 through Lars Elstrup’s late goal. Denmark accompanied Sweden through to the semifinals.
Vilfort’s replacement, Henrik Larsen was able to score the first goal in the dramatic victory. When Vilfort returned to the team, coach Nielsen aptly played both midfielders in the semifinal match. Netherlands 2-2 draw at normal time. Larsen bought up two goals. While Vilfort became a midfield general in a duel with midfielders Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard. However, the main star is precisely Peter Schmeichel. The goalkeeper who was just a season to strengthen Manchester United dismissed the kick Marco van Basten in the penalty shootout. In front of Schmeichel, the Dutch hero at the 1988 European Cup turned into a prisoner.
Abysmal, why didn’t Denmark beat Germany in the final? Is it possible? The Nationalmannschaft die squad is full of players who won the 1990 World Cup with West Germany. Winning the 1992 European Cup is clearly a happy gift for a country that is naturally united. What power, again good fortune that year fell for Denmark.
John Jensen opened the scoring through a hard kick that immediately ruffled the German script scenario champion. The midfielder’s second goal in 49 international parties. Arsenal’s reason for recruiting him after the tournament, despite his career in North London.
Backpass is still valid, Denmark tries to maintain victory. The defender passes to the goalkeeper. The keeper passes the defender back to him. I kept on. Eleven minutes before the long whistle, the ecstasy peaked. Vilfort scores the winning goal. Danish dynamite exploded so loud and loud. Presenting the first important trophy of the Nordic countries. Two weeks ago, they did not qualify for the tournament. After a month intermittent, they came out as champions.
For Vilfort, he offered this glory to Line. His own son who asked Vilfort to return to the national team to fight in the semifinals. The reason for the fierce performance ended in the final goal for the winner. Sadly, a few weeks later Line died because of an illness he suffered. Vilfort, Jensen, Schmeichel, and seven other personnel a season earlier were in the car that led Brondby through the 1990-91 UEFA Cup semifinals. Together with Nielsen’s pragmatism, this factor is often seen to be crucial to the success of the national team at the 1992 European Cup. Still, it is still difficult to imagine, comparing it to the Netherlands thanks to the pivot of the 1988 European Cup team.
“We have fantastic spirit. The team wants to win and it’s very good at the highest level. When we were under German pressure, that spirit helped us. We don’t have the best players, but we have the greatest team, “Vilfort recalls.
Until now, this triumph is still the pinnacle of Danish football achievements. Not achieved in the era of Preben Elkjaer, minus the presence of the greatest talent named Michael Laudrup, and it seems impossible to repeat the following generations. Nicklas Bendnter just failed.Danish glory also marked several changes. The legal action of the back pass has died, while changing the landscape of football tactics. Adjustments to this rule are too drastic.While the prohibition of Yugoslavia from participating, still continued to regret. At the end of May this year, their player who is now coach, Slavisa Jokanovic commented on other possibilities that could have happened at that time.”We have won the European Cup and it was never returned. We’re a better team than Denmark. We can achieve something big with the star players we have, a month before our team was more resilient.
“A very bad situation happened at that time. Many countries are reluctant to conduct trials with us. Two weeks ago, they banned our participation. Very disappointing. We very much wanted to show what we could, but politics prevented it. Feels bad, “Jokanovic said Denmark’s shocking triumph along with the story around it successfully enriched the rich story of the European Cup. Interstate tournaments that have never been separated from the impact of continental turmoil. Fertile soil for many childish surprises. Denmark ’92 preceded the surprise that took place afterward.
Unfortunately, the 2020 edition tournament must be delayed. A new format that must be held back a year later. When it finally takes place, what is the big surprise that you are most looking forward to?
ASL
