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.

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

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.

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…