FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template
He’s only been playing ‘reserve football’ over the past three seasons or so according to his new club, but Denmark’s hopes rest on his shoulders.
Chelsea chairman Ken Bates controversially claimed after his club recently signed Brian Laudrup from Rangers that the Dane would have to step up a gear in the English Premiership, suggesting that Scottish football isn’t too tough an option for world class players. But World Cups sort out the men from the boys and Laudrup, who chose Chelsea as his next challenge in preference to Ajax, will have to pull out something special if the Danes are to make the second round for only the second time.
Only brother Michael survives from the squad which came through the first phase in Mexico in 1986. But Brian, who top-scored with 16 goals in leading Rangers to a record-equalling ninth title in a row in 1997 showed in the qualifiers that he can be the Danish secret weapon. The man who is to earn around 80,000 dollars a week next season at Stamford Bridge scored a superb solo effort which helped beat Greece in their second qualifier and then crucially found the net again in a 1-1 draw away to Croatia.
The former Fiorentina and Bayern Munich star, twice named Scottish Player of the Year, similarly showed why Swedish-born coach Bo Johansson is pinning so much faith in him when he cracked the winner at his adopted Ibrox in a recent 1-0 friendly win over Scotland for his 19th goal in 74 internationals.
Laudrup’s obvious value to the squad was also illustrated when, in his absence enforced by chicken pox, the Danes did their best to throw their France 98 tickets away by losing in Bosnia.