Key analysis: Can Denmark continue to impress on the big stage?

Coach Kasper Hjulmand's overall match record prior to June 2022 was 19-3-6, including a draw against England in the European Championship semi-final. In that period, they lost twice to Belgium, once to Finland when they were flattened by Christian Eriksen's heart failure, once to Scotland in a meaningless qualifier when they had already qualified for the World Cup and finally to the Netherlands when their defence was severely weakened. 

Under Hjulmand, the national team has found a system of playing effectively and entertainingly, with advancing wingbacks and plenty of pressure on the ball to ensure quick turnovers.

Depending on the opponent and the match, Hjulmand operates with two or three central defenders, but against World Cup group rivals France, in September, he surprisingly switched to a 4-2-3-1 formation.

There are many hungry young talents in the squad, but there is also a solid core of regulars, like Kasper Schmeichel, Simon Kjaer and Christian Eriksen, who are the culture carriers of the team.

Hjulmand has once again rallied the nation around the team and there is great optimism ahead of the World Cup finals. This is a team that on its best days can beat the very best.

Strengths

Togetherness. The Danish national team moved even closer together after Eriksen's shocking cardiac arrest in the Finland match at last year's European Championship. The Danes rose from that terrible experience to reach the semi-finals, where they eventually lost to England after extra time. It was to be the end of a tournament where the Danish team garnered particularly heavy praise for their spirited performances.

The national team is well constructed and has had great success recently, including two wins over the reigning world champions France. It is team harmony and this recent good form that are the Danes' true strengths and should give them plenty of confidence going into this World Cup.

Weaknesses 

The Danes' biggest weakness is that several players do not get the desired amount of playing time at their respective clubs.

Players like Thomas Delaney, Kasper Dolberg and Mikkel Damsgaard are all in a situation where they have not got many minutes this season.

Other players like Andreas Cornelius, Jonas Wind, Christian Norgaard and Andreas Christensen have all been hit by injuries that mean they are probably not in optimal match shape.

Ideal XI

It can be difficult to pinpoint an ideal starting line-up, as Hjulmand has alternated between two formations in particular. Denmark have usually played with either a 4-3-3 or a 3-4-3 formation.

Here's a guess at the starting 11 in the first match against Tunisia:

4-3-3

Kasper Schmeichel - Rasmus Nissen Kristensen, Simon Kjaer, Joachim Andersen, Joakim Maehle - Thomas Delaney, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Christian Eriksen - Jesper Lindstrom, Kasper Dolberg, Andreas Skov Olsen

3-4-3

Kasper Schmeichel - Andreas Christensen, Simon Kjaer, Joachim Andersen - Rasmus Nissen Kristensen, Thomas Delaney, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Joakim Maehle - Andreas Skov Olsen, Kasper Dolberg, Christian Eriksen

Hottest Contest

Schmeichel has been the first choice in goal for a number of years. Although the Danish goalkeeper had a difficult start at Nice, he has raised his level so that he again looks like the top goalkeeper that the Danes had been used to seeing between the sticks.

In central defence, the team's captain Kjaer has shaken off his injury and got some minutes under his belt. He is therefore expected to be among the first 11 to take to the field in Qatar. Predicting who will be Kjaer's partner in a four-man backline is a little trickier, though. Joachim Andersen has been a regular at Crystal Palace, while Christensen has been injured for a long time at FC Barcelona, where he has only recently become fit. In a three-man back line, Hjulmand will probably find room for both of them.

On the flanks, Joakim Maehle has settled into the left-back position and doesn't have much competition in that spot. However, there is competition for places at right back, with Rasmus Kristensen from Leeds and Daniel Wass from Brondby in particular. Wass has more experience, while Kristensen plays at a higher level in the Premier League.

In midfield, Hjulmand will probably opt for Eriksen, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Delaney. The latter has not played much in Sevilla, but the most natural replacement, Christian Norgaard, has been injured for a long time and is only just ready. Therefore, it seems that Delaney will start.

Up front, Andreas Skov Olsen and Jesper Lindstrom have been flying in their respective clubs. Dolberg hasn't played much at Sevilla, but with both Cornelius and Wind injured, Dolberg is a good bet to start the tournament.

Prediction

This Danish team has gone from strength to strength in recent years and as their World Ranking suggests, they can mix it with the best nations out there.

They are expected to get out of Group D with ease but how they go against one of the tournament favourites in France should determine whether they place first or second in that group. As mentioned, they do have a good record against the French recently.

A second-place group finish could throw them up against Argentina in the Round of 16 which would be tricky. Getting that far would be a minimum requirement for this team, but they will have their eyes on the quarterfinals or further as a sign of success and progress.