Denmark

Former European champions go into World Cup ranked 36th in the Fifa table.

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Denmark beat Scandinavian rivals Sweden into the finals [GALLO/GETTY]

The Danes know how to spring a surprise.

Having not even qualified for the European Championships in 1992, they were late additions after Yugoslavia’s withdrawal and went on to win the tournament.

The World Cup has been another story. The Danes have reached just four editions, and travel to these finals a lowly 36th in the world despite a fine qualifying campaign.

Morten Olsen’s men topped their qualifying group over Portugal and Sweden, losing just once, and an average-looking team led by the likes of Jon Dahl Tomasson and Nicklas Bendtner will shock the world again if they progress far beyond the group stages.

Goalkeepers:

Thomas Sorensen (Stoke City), Stephan Andersen (Brondby), Jesper Christiansen (FC Copenhagen).

Group E fixtures

Monday June 14

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Netherlands v Denmark
undefined Japan v Cameroon 

Saturday June 19


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Netherlands v Japan 
undefined Cameroon v Denmark 

Thursday June 24


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Denmark v Japan 
undefined Cameroon v Netherlands

Defenders:

William Kvist (FC Copenhagen), Simon Kjaer (Palermo), Lars Jacobsen (Blackburn Rovers), Per Kroldrup (Fiorentina), Daniel Agger (Liverpool), Patrick Mtiliga (Malaga), Simon Poulsen (AZ Alkmaar).

Midfielders:

Martin Jorgensen (AGF Aarhus), Christian Poulsen (Juventus), Jakob Poulsen (AGF Aarhus), Dennis Rommedahl (Ajax Amsterdam), Thomas Kahlenberg (VfL Wolfsburg), Thomas Enevoldsen (FC Groningen), Christian Eriksen (Ajax Amsterdam), Mikkel Beckmann (Randers), Daniel Jensen (Werder Bremen), Jepser Gronkjaer (FC Copenhagen).

Forwards:

Jon Dahl Tomasson (Feyenoord), Soren Larsen (MSV Duisburg), Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal).

Source: Al Jazeera, News Agencies