Since its creation in 1958 and inception in 1960, the “UEFA European Championship” – or Euros – has featured ten unique winners of the quadrennial competition.
Among these are the expected honour roll: Germany, France, Italy, Spain – the Netherlands joining them having won the previous running in the West Germany Euros ‘88.
Understandably then, the Netherlands came into the ‘92 Euros with confidence – and the squad to back it up.
The Teams on Paper
Hans van Breukelen – who saw victory in the last Euros – started in goal, and it only got worse for any opposition from there. Ronald Koeman, Adri van Tiggelen and Frank de Boer ran the back line, Jan Wouters and Frank Rijkaard the holding midfielders.
The attacking midfield continued in this vein of ability, Robert Witschge on the right, Ruud Gullit left, with Dennis Bergkamp in a CAM position.
Completing the attack was Bryan Roy and later- three-time Ballon d’Or winner Marco van Basten. On paper, it’s difficult finding a weakness.
They stood in stark contrast to their drawn opponents for the semis – Denmark. Having finished second in the group draw behind the banned tournament-goers Yugoslavia, they gained a place once it was apparent Yugoslavia wouldn’t be taking part.
This was their first European competition – one they weren’t even expected to enter – so expectations were at a minimum; even just performing well in the groups would have made Danish hearts happy. But here they were in the semis, facing an opponent none – including the Danes – thought they’d best.
Denmark entered the semis with a mixed squad: Manchester United’s Peter Schmeichel started in goal, Torben Piechnik and Lars Olsen the full-backs, Henrik Andersen and John Sivebæk the wing-backs.
John Jensen and Kim Vilfort comprised the midfield as Henrik Larsen and Kim Christofte played on the wings. Brian Laudrup took a centre-forward role for the match as Flemming Povlsen acted as the main striker.
A few more prominent names, but nothing in comparison to the Netherlands’ all-encompassing force. The whistle blew at 20:15, 22nd June and we were away.
A Frenetic Start
Out of the gate, Denmark went at the Netherlands hard; Rinus Michels – the Netherlands manager – had plans to press the Danes and to play an offside trap through the game, stifling any potential attack.
The time came, Larsen was pressed by three Dutch players but laid through a deft pass. The offside trap was beaten immediately and Laudrup met the ball, ran into the box and shot low left, which was saved by Van Breukelen. This entire sequence of events unfolded within thirty-three seconds.
Within half a minute Denmark had broken past what were seen as giants and boosted their morale into the air. The tide of the game instantly turned in their favour.
They immediately pressed their advantage. The following five minutes saw no significant attempts from the Dutch but instead featured a Danish onslaught. Larsen attempted to convert a cross within 2” but was blocked by Van Breukelen.
Three minutes later – having not left the Netherlands’ half – their chance came again. Laudrup crosses, Van Breukelen dives backwards, misses the ball by a fraction and gets his head turned just in time to see Larsen head the ball into the net with force.
Dutch heads drop downcast, Larsen runs to the raucous crowd with a finger in the air. It’s 1-0 to the Danes.
You’d half expect Denmark to hold at this point, maintain the advantage and take attacking chances when they materialise – but no. They’ve got one, surprised home hearts, so why not go for it all?
In the 11” the Dutch are holding a low line, aiming to prevent a run from the Danes. Laudrup – utterly unphased by this – takes a touch and hammers a driven shot at goal from outside the box – narrowly missing the bottom corner by about a foot. Confidence is now on the side of the Danes and it’s clear to see.
The Dutch break, Bergkamp receives the ball and all but walks through the Danish defence – a certain goal had it not been for fast-thinking Schmeichel who came charging off his line to meet him. It’s taken 13” but the Dutch are finally starting to show their true colours.
Now off the back foot, the game becomes an all-out affair. The Danes – still confident from their strong start – make an attacking run 16” in, though this time the Dutch offside trap works wonders and stops them in their tracks. From here the game stagnates slightly, both sides trying to push through to no avail.
This is until the 24” when Witschge receives the ball on the edge of the box. He whips a cross to Van Basten, who instead of going for goal reads the play excellently, heading a deft pass into the path of a running Bergkamp. His right foot meets it on the half-volley, and we all know what comes next. 1-1.
The back-and-forth play continues. A 29” overhead cross is attempted by the Danes but is tapped aside. Still pressing, the Danes make a run. Povlsen crosses into the box, Vilfort meets it and heads a pass to Laudrup, who can only manage a light flick toward goal.
Koeman meets this immediately, deflecting the ball hard into a valley of space where Larsen is making a run. He hits it with intent, hard, stunning the Dutch defence and Van Breukelen – who hardly moved.
Larssen has his brace, and it’s 2-1 to Denmark. For the rest of the half, it’s all Denmark, having a chance which is offside and a certain foul which wasn’t given as the whistle blows.
Drama at the Death
The Danes come out of the gate even stronger than at first, essentially dominating the Dutch for the best part of forty minutes. Though nothing converts, the Danes enjoy four on-goal attempts whilst the Dutch scramble for an equaliser to no avail.
Finally, 82” in the Dutch started coming online, pressing the Danes hard in their half. An 82” shot by Gullit was saved by Schmeichel, pushing it aside for a corner which came to nothing.
The tide truly turned in the 86th minute; a corner flew into the Danish box, two Danish defenders tried but failed to intercept the ball and Rijkaard picked up the pieces, converting his shot to make it 2-2 in the 86”. The game remains this way as we enter extra time.
A different Netherlands arrived out the gates than we’d seen previously in the game. They controlled the first half of extra time entirely, making four attempts on goal in fifteen minutes – though none converted; most went wide, but Schmeichel made a crucial save on a Roy attempt 102” in.
The first half of extra time was over with no further goals. The second half was signposted by a well-read interception by Schmeichel twenty seconds in; a Dutch cross rolled into Van Basten’s path which Schmeichel ran to meet and intercepted. Crucial.
Some trying Danish attempts followed, but the Dutch were truly looking in control now as they peppered shots toward Schmeichel. The whistle blew, and despite countless attempts, the score remained 2-2 as we entered penalties.
The Ignominy of Penalties
It was down to the wire. Denmark, a chance to head to the finals on their first European Cup visit, the Netherlands attempting to secure their second finals appearance in as many years, trying for the back-to-back.
Koeman first, scoring with a rocket into the roof of the net. Larsen follows, a shot bottom-right which Van Breukelen touched but failed to save. 1-1.
Van Basten’s turn. He makes a long run, slotting the ball toward the bottom right. But disaster; Schmeichel – as he has throughout the game – makes the read correctly and saves the shot.
Povlsen then stepped up, a short run-up and a hammer to the left netting made it 2-1 to the Danes, despite Van Breukelen again getting a touch. The Danes had been thrown a lifeline.
Bergkamp and Elstrup next up. Both convert, 3-2.
Rijkaard and Vilfort. Both convert. Vilfort receives huge roars from the Danish fans, they know what this could mean. 4-3.
Witschge shoots and scores. 4-4. Christofte walks to the ball calmly, takes a single step and strikes with his left foot. The ball goes left, Van Breukelen moves right, it’s 5-4 to Denmark.
The crowd erupts, Christofte punches the air and drops to his knees, Schmeichel meets him and hugs him, ecstatic, as the team follows.
Denmark – a team that shouldn’t have been in Euro ‘92 in the first place – had just secured their ticket to the finals to face Germany, another ‘insurmountable’ opponent.
But, the Danes had a feeling that they could go all the way. A chance to etch their names in the history books, which they would go on to do following a 2-0 victory. This was their cup to win, and this game proved it.
