From: fischer@iesd.auc.dk (Lars Peter Fischer)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.soccer
Subject: Denmark & the Olympics
Date: 15 Aug 92 03:13:34 GMT
Organization: Mathematics and Computer Science, Aalborg University


There has been some talk about the Danish performance during the
Olympics here. Unfortunately I was away during the event, so even
though I managed to see the games I didn't get to comment.

Well, my general impression is this: weak, unispired, slow, boring.
The Danish Olympic team has played some beautiful qualification
games, with fast-paced, flexible play with daring ideas and a high
technical level as their hallmarks. In short, they played *fun*
football during the qualification games.

Not so at the real event. The team seemed tense and lacked
imagination. There was some solid performance from time to time, but
always predictable, leading nowhere. Worse, this tenseness seemed to
affect the players individually, leading to to little work and lack of
precision. Far too many balls where lost due to lack of free players
to pass to and due to horribly imprecise passes.

True, they had their chances against Mexico, with the ball dancing in
the Mexican box several times in the first 30 minutes -- I was simply
astonished they didn't score. They dominated the first half against
Mexico, due to the Mexicans playing defensively. Had they scored on
one of these numerous chances, many thing would have been different.
Instead Mexico got a goal due to a defense/goalkeeper mistake, and
that was more or less the end of it. In the second half where we
should have turned thing around, Mexico actually controlled much of
what was going on. Throughout the game the Danish play seemed random
and confused and little came of it. Far too many mistakes and lost
balls. In the words of my wife: "If they are going to play like that,
they might as well go home right away".

In the next two games the tendency continued, confusion, lack of
precision, lack of inspiration, no *team* play -- which is after all
what football is all about. Yeah, they where *in* the game against
Ghana, but they never got the beautiful fluent play going. And the
Australia game -- yuck. We tried to fight down a physically stronger
side instead of using out many technically good players to get around
them. I just sat there screaming for a Johansen twin (or two) but,
noooo.

In all, I was *very* disappointed with this, having followed the team
during the qualification. The play was boring and not with seeing.
They never functioned as a team, and few did well as individuals.
Our much-famed forwards (Peter M/oller and Miklos Molnar) sure didn't
show why they are top scores of the Danish and Swiss leagues. The only
player living up to expectations was Stig T/ofting, but while it's
nice to have a good spoiler, you don't win many games and sure do not
show exciting football that way. Claus Thomsen and Niels Christian
J/orgensen what they should. The rest -- foo.

Why, you ask? Well, somehow Danish youth teams have tendency to
collapse when away from home. We have seen it in U/17, U/21, and now
the Olympic tournament. Lack of professionalism, overprotected
players, lack of will to adapt to changed environments? Somehow Danish
youth teams seem to go under psychologically -- I don't know why. DBU
will have to look into this.

Oh, and just in case you wonder: My outlook on the future is not too
grim. Several of these players, notably Claus Thomsen, will be
valuable on the "real" national team when they grow up a bit. Thomsen
should be ready to take the libero sometime during the EC94
qualification. M/oller other have the talent and the will and will be
up there. And for the Olympics: We'll be back.

/Lars

--
Lars Fischer, fischer@iesd.auc.dk | It takes an uncommon mind to think of
CS Dept., Aalborg Univ., DENMARK. | these things.  -- Calvin
Newsgroups: rec.sport.soccer