Denmark are a bit of a conundrum. England’s next opponents in Group D have the quality to cause problems, having competed well at European level. They are, however, yet to make their mark on the world stage.
This is their first appearance in a World Cup in 16 years. Four years ago they missed out partly because the team forfeited a qualifier against Sweden in a pay dispute with their federation. It was a courageous move but means many of the players who have shone at European Championships in recent years – reaching the semi-finals in 2013 and finishing as runners-up in 2017 – have, until now, never featured at this level. Last year’s Euros were a disappointment for Denmark, who dropped out at the group stage in England.
