How Denmark won Euro 92 despite not qualifying

Greece' Euro 2004 success was a proper underdog story and all, but, you know, at least they qualified for the tournament.

Denmark had just ten days to prepare for Euro 92 after geopolitical circumstances facilitated their entry into the competition. While reports of the Danish squad being on holiday were wide of the mark, they certainly weren't prepared to compete against Europe's best in Sweden.

Heading into Euro 92, Denmark had won just two European Championship games in three appearances.

After their final match ahead of the tournament resulted in a disgruntled Danish crowd booing their country off following a 1-1 draw with Russia, their destiny in Sweden seemed inevitable: humiliation. Sure, they had nothing to lose, but how could anything go right? Star creator Michael Laudrup was absent, too.

Here's how Denmark shocked the footballing world and ascended to Euro 92 glory despite failing to qualify for the tournament.

Denmark's Euro 92 qualifying campaign

Just eight teams competed at Euro 92 which meant seven teams would join Sweden at the tournament. During qualification, 33 countries were divided into seven groups, with each group winner qualifying for Euro 92.

Denmark were drawn alongside an excellent Yugoslavia outfit that contained the likes of Darko Pančev and Dejan Savićević and were pipped to top spot in the group by Ivica Osim's side despite beating them away from home.

Denmark's draw with Northern Ireland proved fatal as Yugoslavia edged them out by a point (a win was then worth two points).

Group 4 table

How did Denmark end up qualifying for Euro 92?

The outbreak of the Yugoslav Wars in 1991 led to the eventual breakup of Yugoslavia, and the country was suspended from competitive football by FIFA and UEFA as a result.

Thus, they were banned from competing at Euro 92 after topping their qualifying group, which meant their spot at the tournament went to Denmark, who finished just behind Yugoslavia in Group 4.

"The world was a poorer place because of not seeing our football artists," Yugoslavia’s assistant coach Ivan Cabrinovic would later say.

Who were Denmark's best players in their Euro 92 squad?

Denmark's squad contained legendary Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, who established himself as one of the world's top stoppers after this tournament, but was missing star turn Michael Laudrup - he'd turned his back on the national team in November 1990 because of differences with manager Richard Moller Nielsen.

His brother Brian Laudrup and John Jensen were two other eye-catching names in the Danish squad, with the former fulfilling a lifelong ambition of playing in Serie A, then regarded as the best league in the world, after the tournament had finished.

Flemming Povlsven and Lars Elstrup both had decent international records coming into the tournament, though it would be Henrik Larsen who shared the Golden Boot with three others after netting three goals.

Denmark's magical Euro 92 campaign

Group stage

Denmark were the underdogs in Group 1 and their campaign began with a drab stalemate with England before they were beaten by hosts Sweden on Matchday 2.

That left the Danes bottom of the group with Sweden's place in the knockout stages all but secure. On the final matchday, Denmark stunned France and beat Les Bleus 2-1 to advance at England's expense after they were beaten 2-1 by Sweden.

Semi-final

Denmark's heroics against France on Matchday 3 set-up a semi-final encounter with holders and the heavily favoured Netherlands in Gothenberg. This was a majestic Dutch outfit that possessed world-class talent across the board, and they'd impressed during the group stage to top Group 2 ahead of world champions Germany.

However, it was the minnows who took the lead early on through Henrik Larsen, who headed home Brian Laudrup's teasing cross. A rare Schmeichel error saw Dennis Bergkamp equaliser, but the Dutch were only on level terms for ten minutes as Larsen struck home his second just after the 30-minute mark.

Frank Rijkaard's late equaliser meant the contest would be decided on penalties, and it was Denmark who advanced after they were perfect from the spot. Schmeichel saved down low to deny Marco van Basten and send his country through to their first-ever major final.

Final

A recently unified Germany bypassed Sweden in a thrilling semi-final and were awaiting Denmark in the final.

Once again, the Danes were unfavoured and unfancied, but they defied the odds once more. Their resistance was stubborn after John Jensen fired them into an early lead and Schmeichel pulled off a stunning save to deny Jurgen Klinsmann in the second half.

Denmark's impossible journey was complete in 78th minute when Kim Vilfort struck from the edge of the area to double his country's lead. There was no way back for Germany as Denmark's fairytale concluded in unthinkable silverware.

They perhaps weren't as stylistically impressive as the Danish Dynamite side of Mexico '86, but their underdog story of 1992 has been eternally etched in the annals of football history.