All about England's Women's World Cup 2023 group stage opponents Denmark
Denmark are back at the FIFA Women’s World Cup after 16 years away and have been drawn into an intriguing Group D alongside England’s Lionesses, China and Haiti.
De Rod-hvide were among the pioneers of women’s football in the 1970s before narrowly missing out on three World Cups in a row.
In the meantime, Denmark finished as runners-up at Euro 2017, which has helped recharge the team who are ranked 13th in the world.
Expectations Down Under
Despite such a lengthy time away from football’s biggest stage, Denmark will be expecting to progress from Group D.
They will be second favourites in their clash against the Lionesses but sit just above China in the world rankings.
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Meanwhile, Haiti are ranked comfortably below all three other Group D teams at 53rd in the world as they make their debut at the tournament.
How will they play?
Despite having a generational talent in the form of striker Pernille Harder, it is all about the midfield for Denmark.
Head coach Lars Sondergaard has pivoted from a 3-4-2-1 to 4-3-3 in recent times with Everton pair Karen Holmgaard and Nicoline Sorensen making vital contributions in the midfield.
Only two of Denmark's players ply their trade in their native country, meaning there is a definite international flavour to the De Rod-hvide, with players playing in eight different countries.
Fixtures
22 July – Denmark v China, Perth
28 July – England v Denmark, Sydney
1 August – Haiti v Denmark, Perth
Form Guide
Denmark lost their only official warm-up game prior to the World Cup 2-0 against Spain, who are expected to challenge for the World Cup trophy.
Prior to that, Denmark were on a four-game winning streak including impressive wins over 2011 World Cup winners Japan, and third-ranked Sweden.
Their only other loss this calendar year came to another team being tipped to lift the trophy in the form of a 1-0 defeat to France.
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Star Player
Pernille Harder is Denmark’s captain and record goal scorer and will be expected to deliver on the World Cup stage.
She has scored 70 goals in 141 appearances for Denmark but her 2022-23 season was hampered by a hamstring injury picked up in the November international break.
The 30-year-old made her return to football in April, scoring five goals and assisting three more in Chelsea's final seven games of the season to lift a domestic double.
It was her introduction in the second half of the Women’s FA Cup final that powered Chelsea to their fourth straight lifting of the trophy, as the forward set up Sam Kerr's winner with a perfectly-timed cross.
It is that kind of quality that WSL fans will miss, with Harder having since departed for Bayern Munich alongside partner and Sweden international Magdalena Eriksson, but the World Cup will provide another chance to see one of the world’s best in action.
Pernille Harder scored a goal in every two games during her time at Women's Super League champions, Chelsea (Visionhaus/Getty Images)Ones to Watch
There are two players who match Pernille Harder for experience among Denmark’s 23-player squad.
Sanne Troelsgaard of Reading has represented her country 176 times, while Katrine Veje of Everton has 145 caps to her name.
The two veterans will likely make more of an impact off the bench with plenty of young talent coming through for Denmark.
Principle among those is Josefine Hasbo, who plays college football for Harvard, while WSL young guns Kathrine Kuhl and Emma Snerle are also tipped to impress.
Who’s in charge?
Whatever happens Down Under, Lars Sondergaard will depart as Denmark head coach after this World Cup as his contract comes to an end.
The 64-year-old took over in December 2017, replacing Nils Nielsen, who guided Denmark to that year’s Euros final and now serves as the director of football at Manchester City Women.
Sondergaard joined the international set-up having managed at club level in both Denmark and Austria.
He has achieved success in guiding Denmark back to the World Cup but failed to see them come through a tough group at the Euros last year.
How did they qualify?
The expansion of the World Cup from 24 to 32 teams gave Denmark more of a chance of qualifying as they went in search of a return to the big stage.
However, they did not need the help as they came through their qualifying campaign with flying colours, winning all eight of their games.
Denmark scored 40 goals and conceded only two as they defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Azerbaijan and Malta, with their 3-1 over Russia being wiped out after the latter’s disqualification.
World Cup record
Early promise at World Cups has given way to heartbreak for Denmark in recent years.
De Rod-hvide reached the quarter-finals at the first two World Cups despite winning only one of their three group games each time.
At the inaugural World Cup in 1991, they lost out to Germany in extra-time in the quarterfinals before being knocked out by eventual champions Norway 3-1 in the 1995 quarter-finals.
Their first missed World Cup in 2003 was sandwiched between group stage exits in 1999 and 2007 before their long absence began missing the 2011, 2015 and 2019 editions.
Anything else I should know?
Denmark’s showings at the official World Cups may not be noteworthy, but their performances at the earlier unofficial tournaments most definitely were.
In 1970, Denmark were crowned World Cup winners as they beat Italy 2-0, but with FIFA not hosting the tournament it is not recognised in the official history of the tournament.
One year later, Denmark defended their crown in front of an estimated crowd of over 110,000 at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico, which still holds the record today for the highest attendance at a women’s football match.
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