| For decades, while the rest of Europe watched | | | | known as the "Olson Gang" under Morten Olsen who |
| professional soccer players every week, it remained | | | | had captained the side as a player in the eighties. He |
| an amateur sport in Denmark. Interestingly, it wasn't until | | | | remains in charge today, although after his side failed |
| 1978 that players began to get paid to play. | | | | to qualify for Germany 2006 he did consider leaving |
| When the sport was still at the amateur level, | | | | the post, but was talked into staying on. |
| Denmark did try to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, but | | | | Denmark is also famous the world over for its loyal |
| failed at every attempt. The side finally made their | | | | band of travelling fans, Roligans. The movement began |
| debut on the biggest stage in soccer in 1986. At that | | | | in the 1980s as a protest against the hooliganism that |
| tournament, they won all three of their first round | | | | was infecting European soccer at the time. The word |
| games, including a 5-0 thrashing of Uruguay. They | | | | roligan is Danish for calm, and that was the image the |
| made it to the round of sixteen before losing 5-0 to | | | | fans wished to project. Years later they match the |
| Spain. | | | | Tartan Army - Scotland's loyal fans - as the keenest |
| They qualified again for the 1998 World Cup held in | | | | in the world. |
| France, and they not only made it out of the group | | | | Denmark won their place at the 2010 World Cup with |
| stage, but they won their second round game 4-1 over | | | | a September defeat of Sweden. The team that will be |
| Nigeria before losing to Brazil in the quarterfinals. | | | | heading to Johannesburg includes Juventus' Christian |
| They next qualified in 2002, when the team was | | | | Poulsen and Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner. |