Next generation

Danes line up with successors to Schmeichel, Laudrups

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) -- Peter Schmeichel and the Laudrup brothers are no longer around, but there's a new generation of Danish players aiming to match their performance of reaching the World Cup quarterfinals four years ago.

The Danes are hoping to at least finish second in Group A behind defending champion France, which would guarantee them a second-round berth in South Korea and Japan. Two-time champion Uruguay and Senegal are also in the group.

"France is the European and world champion, Uruguay is always an organized team that is hard to score against and Senegal, it's the first time they're in the finals and they have nothing to lose," coach Morten Olsen said.

"It is absolutely realistic to believe we can finish second, but we have to play our best and have a bit of luck on our side."

Olsen, the captain when Denmark made its first major international appearance at the World Cup in Mexico in 1986, is expected to rely on a strong forward quartet Ebbe Sand, Martin Joergensen, Jon Dahl Tomasson and Dennis Rommedahl.

The midfield is likely to include players like Stig Toefting, Thomas Helveg, Martin Laursen, Thomas Gravesen and Rene Henriksen. Team captain and veteran Jan Heintze, who has played 81 times since he joined in 1987, will lead the defense while the goal likely will be guarded by Schmeichel successors Thomas Soerensen and Peter Kjaer.

Apart from these core players, the squad should include less experienced strong cards, like defender Niclas Jensen, midfielders Christian Poulsen and Mads Joergensen, and forwards Peter Madsen and Peter Loevenkrands.

In contrast to the 1998 World Cup squad that was a very compact team along the lines of the players who stunningly became European champions in 1992, the current lineup has many individualists.

Many compare the Olsen Gang, as it's called in Denmark, with the Danish Dynamite squad that traveled to Mexico in 1986 and had solo stars like Preben Elkjaer Larsen.

However, the present squad has had its problems. By early April many players had or were recovering from injuries. On top of that, the Danes made a poor showing in warm-up games against Saudi Arabia, which they only beat 1-0, and Ireland, where they lost 3-0.

"There's probably more pressure on the Danish side today than in 1986 because it's the third time we're playing in the finals," Olsen said.

The Danes convincingly qualified after winning Group 3 with 22 points, ahead of the Czech Republic (20 points), Bulgaria (17), Iceland (13), Northern Ireland (11) and Malta (1).

The team has lodged a protest with FIFA because two of its three games are to be played in the heat of the South Korean afternoon with temperatures that can reach 33 degrees C (91 degrees F) -- much warmer than in Denmark.

Olsen claims it is an advantage for the others in Group A. France will be playing two matches in the cooler evening.

FIFA has promised to look into the complaint.

To those who miss the Laudrups -- Michael Laudrup will be on the team but as the assistant coach, a job he has said he would quit after the World Cup.

Schmeichel remains active at club level. The former standout Manchester United 'keeper has moved from Aston Villa to promoted Manchester City and will be playing in the Premier League next season.

 

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