Best EURO performance: winners 1992
Coach: Morten Olsen
Leading scorer: all-time – Poul Nielsen, Jon Dahl Tomasson (52); current – Dennis Rommedahl (21)
Most appearances: all-time – Peter Schmeichel (129); current – Dennis Rommedahl (116)
Association formed: 1889
Nickname: none

When Morten Olsen leads Denmark to Poland and Ukraine, they will be returning to a competition which has served them famously well down the years. Having failed to qualify in 2008, the 2012 showcase will be the 1992 champions' eighth UEFA European Championship final tournament since their 1964 debut in Spain, and they have also graced four FIFA World Cups, bowing out after the group stage in South Africa. Considering Denmark is a country of under six million where professionals were excluded from the national team until 1971, it is no mean feat; nor was topping a section including Portugal and Norway en route to UEFA EURO 2012.

UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying
Group H: winners
Leading scorer: Nicklas Bendtner, Dennis Rommedahl (3)
Ever-presents: Lars Jacobsen, Christian Eriksen, Dennis Rommedahl (8)

Denmark qualified as Group H winners thanks to a 2-1 defeat of Portugal in Copenhagen in the final round of matches. Goals from Michael Krohn-Dehli and Nicklas Bendtner gave Olsen's side a two-goal lead at a sold-out Parken Stadion, Cristiano Ronaldo's added-time free-kick coming too late to prevent the Danes winning the section by three points.

Qualifying success was based on impeccable home form as Denmark won all four of the fixtures they hosted, conceding just that lone Ronaldo goal in the process.

Olsen's charges bounced back from losing in Portugal in their second game to remain unbeaten thereafter, a 1-1 away draw in Norway and a 2-0 home success against their Scandinavian rivals proving crucial to their progress.

Such was the coach's satisfaction at the successful campaign that he went back on his 2010 decision to step down after UEFA EURO 2012, agreeing a deal until after the next FIFA World Cup once a place in Poland and Ukraine had been confirmed. "We have qualified at a time when we brought several new players into the team," Olsen said. "Now it is important for the players to get to know each other."

EURO pedigree
The 1992 champions missed out on UEFA EURO 2008, losing out to Spain and Sweden for a place in Austria and Switzerland. A 3-0 forfeit match against the Swedes in Copenhagen, and a 3-1 home loss to the eventual champions, proved fatal to their hopes.

Denmark have a proud history in the competition, however, their finest hour coming in Sweden 19 years ago. They had not even qualified for the finals but the suspension of Yugoslavia handed them a second chance they grasped with both hands. Despite having only ten days to prepare, England and France were eliminated in the group stage, and holders the Netherlands went the same way in a semi-final penalty shoot-out before goals from John Jensen and Kim Vilfort secured a 2-0 final win against Germany and a fitting conclusion to a remarkable fairy tale.

The Danes made their finals debut in the four-team 1964 competition and got past the group stage at their next showcase appearance in 1984, eventually losing to Spain on penalties in the last four. Olsen's charges again overcame the initial hurdle in 2004, but three Czech Republic goals early in the second half ended their interest in the quarter-finals.

UEFA EURO 2012 Group B fixtures
Saturday 9 June: Netherlands v Denmark, 18.00CET, Kharkiv
Wednesday 13 June: Denmark v Portugal, 18.00CET, Lviv
Sunday 17 June: Denmark v Germany, 20.45CET, Lviv

Team EURO records
Matches played
Overall: P129 W56 D29 L44 F203 A168
Final tournament: P25 W7 D6 L12 F27 A38
Qualifying: P104 W49 D23 L32 F176 A130

Click here for extensive list of records

Last updated 5 June 2012