International Head-to-Head –Part 14, Denmark v. Italy (with a video Interview with Italian Author and former Freelance Journalist Mr. Davide Eskelund Rota)

 

 

In this Blog Presentation with an interview, I look back at the past encounters between Denmark and Italy.

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

 

The Interviewee is:

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

 

1960s

The first matches between the nations was a friendly on December 5, 1964, at Bologna. Italy featuring Giovanni Trapattoni and Gianni Rivera won (3-1).

This was Italy’s first win over Denmark and first match on Italian soil.

 

Photo From: Il Libro Azzuro, Author: Walter Perosino, 1998

(December 5, 1964, Italy 3-Denmark 1)

Photo From: Il Calcio e Il Ciclismo Illustrato, Anno XXXIV, No 50, December 13, 1964

(December 5, 1964, Italy 3-Denmark 1)

Photo From: Il Calcio e Il Ciclismo Illustrato, Anno XXXIV, No 50, December 13, 1964

(December 5, 1964, Italy 3-Denmark 1)

1970s

The sides did not face one another for more than a decade. Denmark hosted Italy for the first time in a friendly at Copenhagen on September 22, 1976.

Italy won (1-0) with a goal by Paolino Pulici. This was Italy’s first win on away soil.

On the Italian side Dino Zoff was involved, who would later manage twice against Denmark in 1999.

Photo From: La Gazzetta dello Sport, Anno 80, No 214, September 23, 1976

(September 22, 1976, Denmark 0-Italy 1)

Photo From: La Gazzetta dello Sport, Anno 80, No 214, September 23, 1976

(September 22, 1976, Denmark 0-Italy 1)

1980s

It was during this decade that the sides met with more frequency. On its way to win the World Cup in 1982, Italy faced Denmark in the qualifiers.

Italy hosted Denmark (with Sepp Piontek at the helm) on November 1, 1980, at Rome in a World Cup qualifier that was the first official match between the nations with Italy winning (2-0).

In the return fixture on June 3, 1981, at Copenhagen, Denmark won (3-1). This was Denmark’s first ever win in the series and Italy’s first loss. It would remain as Denmark’s only win on home soil vs. Italy.

This was Italy’s only loss in the 1982 World Cup adventure. For Denmark, this 1981 win was a reference match that underlined the progress under Manager Sepp Piontek.

Enzo Bearzot managed Italy for the third time against Denmark (1976, 1980, 1981).

The sides would meet again at the tail end of the decade. On June 17, 1988, the sides met during the UEFA European Championships at Köln in West Germany.

This was the first match in a Finals between the Nations and the first match on neutral soil. Italy won (2-0) with Azeglio Vicini managing against Denmark for the first time.

Denmark’s Morten Olsen played in 1980, 1981 and this 1988 match and would manage Denmark against Italy in 2004, 2012 and 2013.

For the last match between the Nations during this decade, Italy hosted Denmark in a friendly on February 22, 1989, at Pisa with Italy winning (1-0).

Sepp Piontek managed Denmark for the fourth time (1980, 1981, 1988 and 1989).

 

Photo From: Onze, Issue 60, December 1980

(November 1, 1980, WC Qualifier, Italy 2-Denmark 0)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 60, December 1980

(November 1, 1980, WC Qualifier, Italy 2-Denmark 0)

Photo From: Alt om Sport n8 30-07-81

(June 3, 1981, WC Qualifier, Denmark 3-Italy 1)

Photo From: Fodbold Jul 1981_82 (mangle 9 sider)

(June 3, 1981, WC Qualifier, Denmark 3-Italy 1)

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, No 25 (699), June 22-28, 1988

(June 17, 1988, UEFA European Championship, Italy 2-Denmark 0)

Photo From: Voetbal magazine, Issue 30, July 1988

(June 17, 1988, UEFA European Championship, Italy 2-Denmark 0)

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, No 9 (734), March 1-7, 1989

(February 22, 1989, Italy 1-Denmark 0)

1990s

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

On June 12, 1991, at Malmö in Sweden, during the Scania 100 Tournament, Italy defeated Denmark (2-0). This was the second match (after 1988) at a neutral venue with Italy winning once more. It was also the only time a match between the Nations went into extra time.

Azeglio Vicini managed Italy for the third time vs. Denmark (1988, 1989 and 1991).

On March 27, 1999, at Copenhagen, Italy defeated Denmark (2-1) in a UEFA European Championship Qualifier. This was Italy’s second away win over Denmark (after 1976). Italy were managed by Dino Zoff (player in 1976, 1980 and 1981).

Paolo Maldini played for the fourth time in the series (1988, 1989, 1991, 1999).

Zoff was manager as well in the return fixture on September 8, 1999, at Napoli, with Denmark winning (2-3). This was Denmark’s first and only away win and to date last victory over Italy.

Peter Schmeichel played for the fifth and last time in the series (1988, 1989, 1991, 1999 (2x)).

 

Photo From: World Soccer, July 1991

(June 12, 1991, Scania 100, Italy 2-Denmark 0)

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, No 13 (1240), March 31-April 6, 1999

(March 27, 1999, EC Qualifier, Denmark 1-Italy 2)

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, No 13 (1240), March 31-April 6, 1999

(March 27, 1999, EC Qualifier, Denmark 1-Italy 2)

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, No 37 (1263), September 15-21, 1999

(September 8, 1999, EC Qualifier, Italy 2-Denmark 3)

Photo From: Landsholdet-I medgang og modgang, Author: Palle "Banks" Jorgensen

(September 8, 1999, EC Qualifier, Italy 2-Denmark 3)

2000s

The sides met just once during this decade. On June 14, 2004, at Guimaraes in Portugal, the sides played in a scoreless tie. This was the second Finals the sides had met (previously 1988) and the third time on neutral soil (1988, 1991, 2004).

It was the first tied match in the series between the Nations. The match was overshadowed by Francesco Totti’s spitting incident on Christian Poulsen.

Italy were managed by Giovanni Trappatoni, who played in the first match in 1964.

Morten Olsen managed Denmark against Italy for the first time. He played and managed against Italy in the two Euros Finals (1988 and 2004).

Photo from: Guerin Sportivo, No 24 (1501), June 15-21, 2004

(June 14, 2004, UEFA European Championship, Italy 0-Denmark 0)

Photo from: Onze-Mondial, Issue 186, July 2004

(June 14, 2004, UEFA European Championship, Italy 0-Denmark 0)

2010s

The sides faced off twice in this decade in World Cup qualifiers. On October 16, 2012, at Milano, Italy defeated Denmark (3-1).

The following year, on October 11, 2013, at Copenhagen, the sides ended in a (2-2) tie. This was the second tied match in the series, and the last to date.

Gianluigi Buffon represented Italy for the fourth time against Denmark (1999 (2x), 2004 and 2013).

Morten Olsen managed Denmark for the third time against Italy (2004, 2012, 1013), having played three times against them (1980, 1981, 1988).

 

Conclusion

On balance, Italy has the edge with eight wins in twelve matches. Denmark has won twice, both in a World Cup and Euros qualifier.

The sides have met twice in the Finals of the Euros with Italy winning in 1988 and a scoreless tie in 2004.

In addition to these Euros Finals matches, the sides have also met on neutral venue a third time in Sweden, as part of the 1991 Scania 100 Tournament. This was the only time that a match between the Nations went into extra time.

Italy has outscored Denmark 21 to 11. The Italian Francesco Graziani has scored the most goals in these series (3 goals).

For the Italians, Paolo Maldini and Gianluigi Buffon have played four times in these series. For the Danish, Peter Schmeichel played five times in the series.

Sepp Piontek has managed the most in these series (4 times).

Giovanni Trapattoni, Dino Zoff and Morten Olsen have played and managed in these series.

 

Note:

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