World Cup Class of 2018: Denmark

Population: 5.75 million

Capital: Copenhagen

Team Colors: Red and White

How Qualified: Won playoff vs. Republic of Ireland

Nickname: Danish Dynamite

5th World Cup

Head Coach: Age Hareide (NOR)

Key Players: Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur), Nicklas Bendtner (Rosenborg), Simon Kjaer (Sevilla), Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City)

Best Performance: Quarterfinals (1998)

Can they bring the dynamite? Denmark returns to the World Cup after missing out in 2014. In the previous four World Cups they have participated in, they have gotten out of the group stage three times with their furthest advancement a quarterfinal appearance in 1998. Their finest hour was at Euro 1992 when they took the spot that Yugoslavia had due to sanctions against the latter and went on to win the entire tournament.

For this stage, after a slow start, they went unbeaten in their last seven qualifiers to finish second in UEFA Group F and enter a playoff against the Republic of Ireland. After a goalless draw at Parken Stadium, the Danes thrashed the Irish, 5-1, at the Aviva on a Christian Eriksen hat trick.

Age Hareide is the Norwegian coach heading the Danes. He has managed various Scandinavian sides such as Molde (NOR), Rosenborg (NOR), Brondby (DEN), and Malmo (SWE). He also managed Norway from 2003 to 2008, but was unable to take them to a major tournament. This World Cup will be his first major tournament as a manager.

A lot of the attack will run through Eriksen and Nicklas Bendtner who now plays at Rosenborg. The defense is expected to be anchored by Simon Kjaer who plies his trade at Sevilla.

We would be remiss not to mention the Roligans who are Denmark’s well-mannered fans. They will be hoping to party at least to the knockout stages. Getting there will not be easy against the French, a game Australian side, and a Peruvian side looking to make a statement. Denmark will be looking to bring the dynamite back into their game in Russia.

Schedule:

June 16: vs. Peru in Saransk (11am CT on FS1/Telemundo)

June 21: vs. Australia in Samara (7am CT on FS1/Telemundo)

June 26: vs. France in Moscow (Luzhniki) (9am CT on FOX/NBC Universo)