International Head-to-Head –Part 12, Denmark and France (with a video Interview with Italian Author and former Freelance Journalist Mr. Davide Eskelund Rota)

The World Cup is nearly here with Denmark facing France in the First Round. This will be the fifth time the sides will have met in a World Cup setting.

 

In anticipation, or this Blog Presentation with an interview, I look back at the past encounters between the Nations.

The Interview will be as a video link companion, while the Blog will be a presentation of the events.

 

The Interviewee is:

Mr. Mr. Davide Eskelund Rota

 

Mr. Davide Eskelund Rota is an Italian, former freelance journalist in Biella (Italy), living in Odense (Denmark) from 2013, working as a languages teacher.

 

He is the author of “Danmark (1908-2018)” chronicling the history of the Danish National Team.

Mr. Rota has appeared before on the podcast discussing the matches of the Denmark National team and also participated in written interviews about the matches of the Italian national team under Vittorio Pozzo.

 

Mr. Davide Eskelund Rota’s contact info:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davide.rota.311

 

Link to his book:

https://www.soccer-books.co.uk/acatalog/Danmark-1908-2018-Landsholdets-Historie--Denmark-National-Team-Statistics--10493.html

 

 

My contact information:

on twitter @sp1873 and on facebook under Soccernostalgia.

https://linktr.ee/sp1873

 

1900s

The first matches between the nations were during the 1908 Olympics in London. In fact, for Denmark, these were their very first International matches in their history.

Denmark faced both France B and A sides in space of three days. The first match between Denmark and France ‘B’ side was on October 19, 1908, with Denmark winning (9-0). On October 22, 1908, Denmark inflicted an even heavier defeat to the main French side (17-1). This is France’s record heavy defeat. Denmark’s Sophus Nielsen scored 10 of the goals. This was a record that stood for nearly a century.

 

Photo From: IFFHS, Danmark (1908-1940), Sverige (1908-10940)

(Denmark squad 1908 Olympics)

1970s

The sides did not face one another for more than six decades. A span that included two World Wars. They faced off in two friendlies in the 1970s.

On November 21, 1973, at Paris, France defeated the Danes (3-0). This was France’s first win over Denmark and first match on French soil.

On September 1, 1976. at Copenhagen, the sides played to a (1-1) tie. This was the first tied match in the series.

Michel Platini scoring the tying goal near the end. Platini would score against the Danes in 1983 and 1984 as well and manage France against them in 1992.

Morten Olsen playing in both of these matches in the decade vs. France as well in 1984. He later managed Denmark in the matches vs. France (2001 to 2015).

 

Photo From: Capitaines des bleus depuis 1904, Author Vincent Duluc

(November 21, 1973, France 3-Denmark 0)

 

1980s

It was during this decade that both sides became powers at World Football. On September 7, 1983, at Copenhagen, Denmark defeated France (3-1). This was Denmark’s first win on home soil in the series.

Michael Laudrup scored twice and he would also score during the 1998 World Cup against France.

A few months later, on June 12, 1984, at Paris the sides faced off at the 1984 Euros hosted in France. France won (1-0) with a goal by Platini deflected by Soren Busk’s head. This was the first competitive match between the Nations. They would face each other in 1992, 2000 Euros and 1998, 2002 and 2018 World Cups.

 

Photo From: Mondial, new series, issue 43, October1983

(September 7, 1983, Denmark 3-France 1)

Photo From: Mondial, new series, issue 43, October1983

(September 7, 1983, Denmark 3-France 1)

Photo From: Mondial, new series, issue 43, October1983

(September 7, 1983, Denmark 3-France 1)

Photo From:  Mondial, new series, issue 52, July 1984 

(June 12, 1984, UEFA European Championship, France 1-Denmark 0)

Photo From:  Mondial, new series, issue 52, July 1984 

(June 12, 1984, UEFA European Championship, France 1-Denmark 0)

Photo From:  Mondial, new series, issue 52, July 1984 

(June 12, 1984, UEFA European Championship, France 1-Denmark 0)

Photo From:  Mondial, new series, issue 52, July 1984 

(June 12, 1984, UEFA European Championship, France 1-Denmark 0)

Photo From:  Mondial, new series, issue 52, July 1984 

(June 12, 1984, UEFA European Championship, France 1-Denmark 0)

 

1990s

The sides faced each other three times in the decade in mostly competitive matches.

On June 17, 1992, at Malmö in Sweden, during the 1992 Euros, Denmark defeated France (2-1) to advance and eliminate France from the Group stage. This was Michel Platini’s last match as France National Team Manager.

On November 9, 1996, at Copenhagen, Denmark defeated France (1-0) in a friendly. This was France Manager Aime Jacquet’s first loss since taking over in 1994.

During the 1998 World Cup, hosted by France, the sides met in a Group stage match in Lyon on June 24, 1998. France, already qualified to the next round, gave a run out to some of its reserves and won (2-1).

 

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2411, June 24, 1992

(June 17, 1992, UEFA European Championship, Denmark 2-France 1)

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 98, March 1997

(November 9, 1996, Denmark 1-France 0)

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2724bis, June 26, 1998

(June 24, 1998, World Cup, France 2-Denmark 1)

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 114, July 1998

(June 24, 1998, World Cup, France 2-Denmark 1)

 

2000s

The sides met four times during this decade. On June 11, 2000, at Brugge in Belgium, France defeated Denmark (3-0) in a Euro 2000 Group phase match.

This was the Third time the sides had met in the Euros.

In the following year, at Nantes, the sides met in a friendly on August 15, 2001. France won (1-0) through a Robert Pires goal.

During the 2002 World Cup, on June 11, 2002, at Incheon, South Korea, Denmark defeated France (2-0) and eliminated the defending World Cup Champions.

On May 31, 2006, at Lens, France defeated Denmark (2-0) in a preparatory friendly ahead of World Cup 2006.

 

Photo From: L’Equipe, L’Equipe de France de Football, la Belle Histoire

(June 11, 2000, UEFA European Championship, France 3-Denmark 0)

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2888bis, August 17, 2001

(August 15, 2001, France 1-Denmark 0)

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 162, July 2002

(June 11, 2002, World Cup, Denmark 2-France 0)

Photo From: France Football, Issue 3138bis, June 2, 2006

(May 31, 2006, France 2-Denmark 0)

2010s

The sides faced off three times in this decade. On March 29, 2015, in a friendly at Saint-Etienne, France defeated Denmark (2-0).

A few months later, on October 11, 2015, at Copenhagen, France won (2-1) through a double by Olivier Giroud (he also scored in the match in March).

This was France’s first ever win on Danish soil.

The sides met at Moscow, during the 2018 World Cup in Russia on June 26, 2018. The match ended in a scoreless tie. This was the Third time the sides had met in a World Cup.

Photo From: L’Equipe, Year 69, No 22169, Monday March 30, 2015

(March 29, 2015, France 2-Denmark 0)

Photo From: L’Equipe, Year 73, No 23346, Wednesday June 27, 2018

(June 26, 2018, World Cup, France 0-Denmark 0)

 

2020s

The sides faced one another twice as part of the UEFA Nations League. On June 3, 2022, at Saint Denis, Denmark defeated France (2-1) through a double strike by Andreas Cornelius. This was Denmark’s first ever win over France on French soil.

A few months, for the return fixture at Copenhagen, on September 25, 2022, Denmark once again were victorious (2-0).

Photo From: L’Equipe, Year 77, No 24766, Saturday June 4, 2022

(June 3, 2022, UEFA Nations League, France 1- Denmark 2)

Photo From: L’Equipe, Year 77, No 24880, Monday September 26, 2022

(September 25, 2022, UEFA Nations League, Denmark 2- France 0)

Photo From: L’Equipe, Year 77, No 24880, Monday September 26, 2022

(September 25, 2022, UEFA Nations League, Denmark 2- France 0)

 

Conclusion

On balance, the sides appear to be equal with eight wins for each side in 18 matches.

The goal difference is better for Denmark because of the (17-1) win in 1908.

The sides seldom met until the 1970s, but in the last four decades the frequency of the meetings have increased.

The sides have met one another on multiple occasions in the Finals of major Tournaments.

France has somewhat the edge in terms of winning International Tournaments during this period.

In terms of importance, the 1984 Euros opener and the 2002 World Cup match that eliminated France stand out for historical reasons.

The meeting in the upcoming 2002 World Cup will be the fourth time, the sides will have met in a World Cup Group stage (1998, 2002, 2018 previously).

 

Note:

1-Please refer to the video link at the top of this blog upload for the interview.