Fansided

Why you should watch every team at the 2018 World Cup

By Harrison Hamm

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring against Ecuador during their 2018 World Cup qualifier football match in Quito, on October 10, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Juan Ruiz (Photo credit should read JUAN RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring against Ecuador during their 2018 World Cup qualifier football match in Quito, on October 10, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Juan Ruiz (Photo credit should read JUAN RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images) /
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COPENHAGEN, DENMARK – AUGUST 07: Thousands of fans celebrate the women’s national football team at The Town Hall Square on August 7, 2017 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The team won silver at the final against the Dutch team. (Photo by Ole Jensen – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK – AUGUST 07: Thousands of fans celebrate the women’s national football team at The Town Hall Square on August 7, 2017 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The team won silver at the final against the Dutch team. (Photo by Ole Jensen – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images) /

Denmark

The history of Denmark’s national team is fascinating. It is one of amazing highs, including triumphs at the 1992 Euros and 1995 Confederations Cup, and disappointing lows, from their 1937 8-0 defeat to Germany to their failure to qualify for the 1994 World Cup. Denmark have long possessed world-class talent, including the likes of Peter (and then Kasper) Schmeichel and Tottenham starter Christian Eriksen.

They are historically the most successful of the Scandinavian states — at least until Martin Odegaard becomes the next Ronaldo (we might be holding out hope on that one). This cycle is their chance to live up to that reputation after missing out on the 2014 World Cup. For Denmark, Eriksen is a once-in-a-lifetime talent, and at 26, there will never be a better time to win with him running the midfield.

He’s far from the only notable name on the team sheet. The younger Schmeichel, a couple years after backstopping Leicester to their improbable Premier League title, will start in goal behind an in-their-prime backline. Sevilla stalwart Simon Kjaer, 24-year-old Real Betis defender Riza Durmisi, and Huddersfield center-back Mathias Jorgensen are among those that will try for starting spots.

William Kvist, a midfielder for Copenhagen with 78 international caps, joins Eriksen and Ajax veteran Lasse Schone in midfield. Longtime Arsenal forward and current Rosenborg goal-scorer (21 in 35 games in the Norwegian league) Nicklas Bendtner leads the line.

Scandinavian managerial legend Age Hareide — who has managed seemingly all of the region’s big clubs, as well as five years with Norway — helped Denmark through a rocky qualifying phase. After finishing second to Poland in their group, they took on Ireland in a two-leg playoff and decimated them 5-1 in the second leg on an Eriksen hat-trick.

This World Cup presents Denmark with an opportunity to harken back to their mid-90s golden age and take advantage of their best field player ever. Their group, which pits them against France, Peru and Australia, is manageable. We’ll see if they can make a run.

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