FRANCE 98 – Match Summary n°51
Denmark reached the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time here on Sunday, cantering to a 4-1 win over Nigeria to book an appetising showdown with defending champions Brazil.
Clinical finishing by the swashbuckling Danes destroyed Nigeria’s hopes of becoming only the second African side ever to reach the last eight after Cameroon in 1990, as the 1992 European champions turned on the style.
After displaying some turgid form in the opening phase, where they qualified with just one win and three goals behind hosts France in Group C, the Danes suddenly sparked to life with an early double blast at the Stade de France to take total command. A goal after just two minutes from Peter Moller, replacing the suspended Miklos Molnar, and a second barely ten minutes later from Chelsea-bound Brian Laudrup had the Nigerians reeling as the Danish stars made a dream start. And second-half efforts from Ebbe Sand and Thomas Helveg rubbed in their superiority on the night against a team which had topped its first round group.
Afterwards Denmark’s Swedish coach Bo Johansson saluted his team for their best performance on the tournament.
” We are drinking champagne tonight, “ he vowed. ” It was a fantastic performance. We can go all the way now. We played Brazilian football tonight and showed the best of Danish football, “ enthused the Danish coach.
His side will now play Brazil in Nantes on Friday for a place in the semi-finals looking to take heart from neighbours Norway, who beat the world champions last week. Johansson said there was no reason why is team shouldn’t spring a surprise and go still further, despite the quality of the Danes’ next opponents.
” We’re playing the best team in the world. As far as I know we’re not the best team in the world, but we’ll give them a hard game for sure, “ he insisted.
Danish keeper Peter Schmeichel had no doubts why his side won. ” Nigeria went in after reading all the press reports thinking they were favourites. Their problem was they did not focus enough on this game. They were too busy thinking about Brazil in the quarter-finals, “ he said.
Nigerian coach Bora Mulitinovic was downcast. ” They played better than our team. We lost concentration after 2-0. Normally I’d not be happy to finish the World Cup this way, But we did at least win our group. We have good players, a good future. “
But Milutinovic may not be around with Nigeria, the fourth country he has coached in consecutive World cups, much longer. Asked if he would fly back with the squad he said he would stay on to watch the rest of the tournament. ” But the decision is not mine. I don’t know where I’m going to be tomorrow morning, “ he said, adding with a wry smile: ” I’m a very happy man-I never say goodbye! “
The Danes were never in trouble after a double-Dutch combination produced the first goal. Ajax star Michael Laudrup, winning his 102nd cap at the age of 34, escaped down the right and found PSV Eindhoven striker Peter Moller, making his first start of the tournament. The 26-year-old promptly blasted a left-foot shot first time past keeper Peter Rufai from the edge of the area.
On 11 minutes Nigeria had a mountain to climb as Brian Laudrup cracked home number two. Brother Michael rolled a short free-kick to Moller, whose fierce shot was parried by Rufai only as far as Laudrup who gleefully rammed home.
The effervescent form which Bora Milutinovic’s side had shown in defeating Spain in a thrilling opening group match to set up their passage to the second phase was sadly lacking. Jaj Jay Okocha hit one speculative effort from 30 yards but it flew well over the bar. Moments later Okocha volleyed just wide and then wriggled clear to fire a third effort just off target as he orchestrated a purple patch for the Nigerians towards the break.
Sand, who had only replaced Moller 22 seconds earlier, tore into the box and nodded on Michael Laudrup’s lofted pass before beating two men and firing home past the despairing Rufai. Thomas Helveg of Udinese smacked in the fourth from the edge of the six yard box after Rafai had spooned out a Martin Jorgensen cross-shot as Denmark continued to go for the jugular.
Tijani Babangida volleyed home a consolation with ten minutes remaining following good work on the left by another substitute Rasheed Yekini to spoil Peter Schmeichel’s hopes of a clean sheet in the Danish goal.