Going into this 12 months’s Women’s World Cup, your entire Denmark nationwide workforce had performed in a World Cup for a mixed zero minutes. After not qualifying for the event the previous 16 years, the Danes are again.

The Red and White acquired off to a pleasant begin in Group D, with a 1-0 victory over China. Now the workforce is feeling extra calm and assured forward of its match Friday towards European champion England at Sydney Football Stadium.

“We know what to expect now,” Denmark captain Pernille Harder mentioned. “We definitely settled our nerves a bit.”

That win was due to one of many gamers with little worldwide expertise in any respect, striker Amalie Vangsgaard. In simply her tenth worldwide look, she scored her first worldwide aim with a header within the 89th minute off a nook kick.

“I couldn’t be happier for her, for the team, that she decides to score the first goal in exactly this game, against China,” Denmark coach Lars Søndergaard mentioned. “It means a lot for her, it means a lot for the team.”

Several of Denmark’s gamers do have vital worldwide expertise, with 10 gamers with over 30 caps. Sixteen of the gamers on the Women’s World Cup have been on the roster for the 2022 Euros, the place Denmark went 1-2.

For a nation that hasn’t performed on this stage since 2007 and has by no means gained a couple of match on the event, Friday’s match towards England may make an announcement for Denmark.

“It’s a fantastic occasion for us,” Søndergaard mentioned. “We know it’s going to be difficult. We are the underdogs but still looking forward to it, and we hope that we can surprise.”

Denmark would all however qualify for the Round of 16 with a win. The Danes haven’t superior out of the group stage because the 1995 Women’s World Cup. Haiti must beat China after which beat Denmark within the final group recreation to qualify forward of the Danes.

As with different groups, Denmark did its greatest to arrange for the Women’s World Cup and what Søndergaard mentioned is a sooner and extra bodily ladies’s recreation than ever.

Coming into the event, the Red and White held friendlies towards among the prime groups on the earth. Facing off towards Sweden, Japan and Spain, ranked Nos. 3, 11 and 6, respectively. Denmark beat Sweden and Japan 1-0. Spain gained 2-0.

“It is important to play against better teams to get better, to develop your play, to develop the tempo in the games – both defensively and offensively,” Søndergaard mentioned.

Denmark might need certified for the 2019 Women’s World Cup if it wasn’t for a pay dispute with the Danish Football Federation, DBU.

In a second of defiance, as a part of a year-long dispute, the workforce forfeited a Women’s World Cup-qualifying match towards Sweden. At the time, the groups have been tied atop their group.

Denmark completed second within the group behind Sweden and was compelled to play within the European qualifying playoffs. The Danes misplaced 4-1 to the Netherlands on mixture over two legs. The Dutch additionally beat Denmark within the 2017 Euros closing.

Seven of Denmark’s gamers play in England, and Harder simply moved from Chelsea final 12 months, so there might be loads of data and familiarity on the sphere when these groups play for prime spot in Group D.

“England is such a great team,” Harder mentioned, “but we will do everything we can to make it difficult for England as well.”

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