Big Ideas for Little Denmark

A new brand of football is taking the world by storm and Denmark is ready to embark on the journey with football's most elite nations - forget direct long ball tactics, the applause of a crunching tackle or Richard Møller Nielsen's defensive 'Give it back to Schmeichel' tactics of 1992 ; modern football is becoming a science involving meticulous preparation and planning to unravel opposition defences in ways that would have been unthought of back in football's heyday.

Today's tika-taka philosophy engineered most effectively by the current Spain and Barcelona sides derived from Holland's total-football style back in the 1970's. The 4-4-2 formation is a thing of the past and whilst all successful teams in the modern era are adopting this approach, Denmark is harbouring ambitions of mirroring this style of play.

Despite boasting only 5.5 million people equal to Kyrgyzstan and slightly less than Sierra Leone, Denmark can consider its fortunes on the football field to be admirable. Whilst the aforementioned countries do not have the same facilites on offer to aid development of the game, it puts into persepctive how well the national team has nurtured itself into becoming top ten in the FIFA world rankings for the first time since May 2003 currently lying behind two-time World Cup winners Argentina (40.5m population). While these rankings cannot be given total respect and no Dane would suggest they are on par with the South Ameican giants, since Danish football only turned professional in 1978, this small nation has had to grow up very fast to climb football's hierachy. Considering the English league turned professional in 1888 and the Spanish league in 1926, it shows what great strides have been taken.

Current national team coach Morten Olsen's tactical prowess has been questioned in the past but the fact the DBU has chosen to extend his contract until 2014 shows the manner of the job taking place. Olsen also works closely with the younger national teams and their coaches Morten Wieghorst and Thomas Frank in nurturing the young talent. Denmark's rapid rise in 18 months from 35th to the top ten in the world has not come without significant hard work and effort.

Five years ago Morten Olsen called for change in the setup of the youth system in the country through all levels. He wanted to implement a new strategy and specific way of training to combine the Barca and Dutch way of playing the beautiful game from the bottom all the way to the top.

The national team missed out on a place at the 2006 World Cup in Germany and had slumped to 38th in the world, their lowest ever position. The existing squad was a decaying shadow  of their Michael Laudrup inspired machine of the 1980's, or the resolute regiment Richard Møller Nielsen guided to glory at Euro 1992, or the squad that accomplished the position of number 3 on the world ladder in 1997. Since taking the reins in 2000, Olsen had now seen enough and showed his tactical acumen in attempting to revolutionise Danish football at all levels. Despite finishing fourth in qualifying for Euro 2008 behind Spain, Sweden and minnows Northern Ireland, forward strides are now being made. The DBU's general secretary Jim Stjerne Hansen is confident in Olsen's approach: "His results are indisputable, and the way the team plays bears witness to the fact that we are on the right path."

Thomas Frank is the coach of the U16 and U17 national youth teams and working closely with Olsen believes the strategy is very, very good: "Football is a huge part of Danish culture and a successful national team breeds positivity. The new strategy is in place but we have only touched the tip of the iceberg so far. Over the next five years we should start to see a real improvement."

By the time of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, Frank is optimistic that there is a good possibility that Denmark should believe they can compete with the best nations in the world and not there simply to make up the numbers: "Luck and timing are of course important but we have a lot of good players and with the strategy pushing forward there is a good possibility of success."

"It is also important not to be too strict and be able to adjust. For a small country we are a big football nation and we should think as a big nation. It is important to get results and aid development and compete with the best certainly in Europe. We must be aware of every young player in the country and get the most from our resources and we will have the ability to remain in Europe's top ten, then the long term goal will be to get as close to the top three (Spain, Germany, Holland) as possible."

The DBU has just shy of 300,000 players and 1614 clubs registered under its name, a number significantly lower than Europe's elite nations. The number however is similiar to Japan (ranked 19 in FIFA world rankings) who can also be considered an up-and-coming football nation. Since co-hosting the 2002 World Cup Japan has been making major strides in terms of youth development and following their recent Asia Cup success, has a similiar strategy as Denmark but has set the 2050 World Cup as a realistic target to conquer the world. But before comparing Denmark to Japan, Frank is looking to close the gap on Europe's elite first where he says: "Germany, Holland, Spain and Switzerland have the best youth programs."

Thomas Frank has been busy implementing this new football philosophy orchestrated by Morten Olsen with the U16 and U17 teams. He led the U17 into the European Championships in Serbia this year and a month later took his young side to Mexico for the U17 World Cup.  Denmark was the team of the group stage under Frank's stewardship with some brilliant attacking football inspired by Ajax's Viktor Fischer and FCK's Kenneth Zohore. The Danes beat hosts Serbia in the quarter-final in front of the tournaments biggest crowd of 6,000 before luck evaded them in the semi-finals succumbing to a 2-0 defeat to eventual runners-up Germany.

Whilst expectation was high a month later in June of this year for the U17 World Cup, Denmark only managed one point from the group stage coming in a 1-1 draw with Australia in the final group game having already lost to Brazil and Ivory Coast. Frank points the finger at only having one month to recuperate between two major tournaments as to why Denmark failed to live up to their tag in Mexico as one of the top three U17 teams in Europe: "Mental energy was lacking at the World Cup. I still believe now that we are in the top eight in the world but we didn't prove it. It was a fantastic experience however with everything mirroring a real World Cup. The draw was also unkind pairing us with Brazil and Ivory Coast who are amongst the best in the world. It shows how tough it is when Holland also only gathered one point from their group games having won the U17 Euros a month earlier brushing aside everyone."

Frank has a good record as coach of the U17's winning 35 of his 60 games in charge and has since taken his U16 team to play two friendlies in Israel where Morten Wieghorst's U21 side will hope to be competing at the 2013 European Championships with his side three points behind Serbia in qualifying but with a game-in-hand. Israel certainly seems a far cry from a friendly with neighbouring Sweden but Frank states the importance of these fixtures for the future development of these players: "It is very important to see different football cultures and play in different environments where heat and thin air can be a factor." The two games ended with one victory and one defeat, but despite football being a results based industry at this age level, its more about philosophy than results.

Barcleona and Spain midfielder, Xavi is a key icon in exercising the style of play that Olsen wants all the Danish young teams to replicate and he famously quoted: "For young players there will come a time when they need to understand the importance of winning but when they start, it is more important that they learn to express themselves and play the ball without fear."

Xavi is a graduate of Barcelona's renowned youth academy, 'La Masia' which provided seven players in Spain's World Cup winning squad in South Africa. The academy was established in 1979 by Johan Cryff and in its 33rd year is now recognised as the best in the world. In 2004 FC Midtjylland became the first Danish club to set up an academy to house and educate the best footballers in the country. The idea and model came from the ideas of French Club Nantes for players from U16 to U19 level. Thomas Frank is a huge fan of this academy: "FC Midtjylland have certainly raised the bar and are doing very well for the country. Their academy is one of a kind in Denmark." AS Roma and national team defender Simon Kjaer is the most notable graduate of the sysytem.

Another masterplan created by the DBU is the recent formation of the U21 domestic league for clubs to breed its youngsters into competitive games. The former Lyngby coach, Frank states: "This is excellent for 17, 18 and 19-year-olds to compete. That is the idea behind the formation of the regional leagues. 20 and 21-year-olds should already have progressed if they are good enough."

It is clear that there are plans in place to have a knock-on effect in the overall success of the national team but Frank still insists that the best players should go abroad as the Danish league does not have enough money pumped into it to ever become one of the best in Europe: "Players should definitely go abroad to learn their trade if they can. Looking at the likes of Christain Eriksen, Viktor Fischer and Nicolai Boilesen at Ajax, they are learning far more playing with better players."

Taking Spain for example, 15 years ago it would have been unthinkable for Spaniards to play abroad but it seems the different cultures and higher levels of competitiveness create stronger personalities and more equipped footballers. It could be questionable what Spain would have won without the English Premier League and its players gaining varied football educations to propell them into even better footballers, which is why it's important more players are given the same opportunities as the three young Danish stars in Holland.
Christian Eriksen stylishly conducts proceedings for the national team at just 19 and will provide the nucleus for many years. He continues a trend that has always associated Denmark with its work ethic and organisation whilst having two or three creative individuals to provide that extra spark. Eriksen playing behind Niklas Bendtner and protected by William Kvist and Niki Zimling along with two attacking wingers is the blueprint for the future of the Barcelona philosophy that Denmark is trying to replicate. Mario Zagallo pioneered the 4-2-3-1 formation with Brazil in the 1970's where emphasis is to build the play from the back with an orchestrator playing as the No.10 to unlock the defence.

Whilst June 26, 1992 remains Denmarks finest hour there could be a new date in the future, forever embedded in Danish history. Whilst most might consider this a Hans Christian Andersen fairytale, Morten Olsen and his staff are all working closely to put their big ideas into practice with this small nation thinking very big. The first aim is to reach the knockout stages in the 2012 European Championships next summer in Poland and Ukraine and then re-evaluate how far the strategy has progressed.

High-flying Seagulls preying for Stoke scalp

Saturday’s David and Goliath clash in the Potteries has all the ingredients for a mouth-watering afternoon of FA Cup football. Gus Poyet takes his table-topping Brighton side to Premier League Stoke with the Seagulls flying on cloud nine.

The home side must guard against complacency against the League One side that will be full of confidence ahead of the game having lost only four times in 28 games this season and looking destined for a return to the Championship. Despite 34 places separating these two sides in the football league ladder, the Potters must stick to their usual no-nonsense approach if they are to harbour serious ambitions of reaching the latter stages of the competition.

Whilst both sides might see this fixture as a welcome distraction from the league, the importance of the game for both clubs is significant with a quarter-final place at stake for the victors. However, not too many people would have been celebrating at the seaside when the draw was made with Stoke holding a superior psychological edge against the League One leaders having won the last seven meetings between the two sides. Brighton’s last victory was back in 2001 when the sides met in the old Division Two in a top-of-the-table clash on a cold September night. Paul Watson was the injury-time hero in a 1-0 win in front of just over 6,000 fans. You have to go back even further for Brighton’s last victory on Stoke soil.

The last time Brighton endured success in the Potteries was all the way back in 1961 at Stoke’s old Victoria Ground. This won’t dampen the spirits of almost 4,000 travelling fans though heading north to the Britannia Stadium dreaming of a repeat of the 1983 final which saw them take Manchester United to a final replay before succumbing to a 4-0 defeat putting an end to Albion’s ‘Roy of the Rovers’ fairytale.

Having scored four goals in their last away game at Bristol Rovers and on a five-game unbeaten run, Gus Poyet’s side have valid reason to believe they can pull off a giant killing with the scalp of Premier League Stoke who have established themselves in the top-flight and realistically believe they have a chance of cup glory. Tony Pulis will be aware of the threat which Brighton pose and will have done his homework on trying to stop the goal threats of Glenn Murray and Ashley Barnes who have 24 goals between them so far this campaign.

In the two previous rounds which Stoke have played against Wolves and Cardiff, Pulis has opted to ring the changes but has seen his weakened sides prove their worth with two away wins. The Welshman is again likely to make changes from the side that was beaten in dramatic fashion at Birmingham last weekend. Ricardo Fuller will be pushing for a start in attack whilst changes to Stoke’s defensive line look certain with Marc Wilson and Danny Pugh making way for Andy Wilkinson and Danny Collins.

In fact, the last time the two sides met was on the final day of the 2006 season at Brighton’s Withdean Stadium. The already relegated Seagulls were thumped 5-1 by a weakened Stoke side thanks to a hat-trick from youngster Adam Rooney now plying his trade with Inverness in the SPL.

Although Stoke clearly hold the upper hand, goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen has called on his teammates to remain focussed and guard against complacency: “We don’t want to be making the headlines Sunday morning for the wrong reasons.”

“The last thing we want is to let all the hard work we have done so far go to waste by thinking we can just turn up on Saturday and win. We are treating this game like any other Premier League game because they deserve our respect,” said the 34-year-old.

Having won his 92^nd cap for Denmark against England recently, Sorensen is likely to be another change made by Tony Pulis with Asmir Begovic dropping to the bench and the big Dane returning to the starting XI.

The visitors are also likely to make changes for the tie welcoming back Chris Wood and Matt Sparrow from injury. Although the Seagulls may not have any household names at their disposal, Gus Poyet will be hoping after this game that some of his squad will have etched their name into FA Cup folklore. The Uruguayan is likely to line-up with their usual 4-3-3 attacking formation and will be looking to start on the front foot against a stubborn Stoke side with Wood joining Barnes and Murray in attack.

Zigic Niks all three points

Nikola Zigic was the stoppage-time hero for Birmingham as the Carling Cup finalists secured a vital three points against a stubborn Stoke side.

The game had been very nip-and-tuck with both keepers rather redundant between the posts until Zigic grabbed a 93^rd minute winner. The result gives Alex McLeish’s side their first back-to-back league wins for 14 months after Zigic rescued the Blues again, following his winner at West Ham last Sunday.

The 6ft 8ins Serbia international nodded in a Cameron Jerome cross after Stoke keeper Asmir Begovic had spilled David Bentley's low shot. Begovic did not have much else to do in a drab Midlands derby but failed to hold onto what looked like a routine save for the Bosnian who has been in fine form of late.

It looked like both sides would share the spoils in a match where chances were few and far between, with much of the game being bossed by both defences but after Stoke’s rare lapse in concentration, the former Potters target Zigic was allowed to ease the home side’s relegation fears and move them into 14^th above rivals Aston Villa.

Both teams lined up with 4-4-2 formations and continued to cancel each other out particularly in the final third. Birmingham’s new front pairing of Zigic and Obafemi Martins were given no change from Ryan Shawcross and Robert Huth who marshalled Stoke’s defence very well, while Stoke’s new forward line of Kenwyne Jones and John Carew were often thwarted by a resolute Roger Johnson and Martin Jiranek. Though the game will not live in the memory for too long, Blues’ fans will just be grateful of the points in their bid to secure Premier League safety.

Boxing Day was the last time that Stoke had won away from the Potteries and they would have certainly fancied their chances at St. Andrews after they weathered an early storm from the hosts to create the lion’s share of what few chances came along in the first half. Former Birmingham man, Jermaine Pennant was the creative fulcrum for the Potters as he enjoyed the benefit of a pair of almost unmissable targets in Carew and Jones, and it was his cultured delivery from the right flank that frequently made life uncomfortable for the one-time Stoke trainee Ben Foster in the Birmingham goal.

But while the two strapping front men battered Foster, they could not better him, and in the absence of tangible reward for his creative efforts, Pennant almost took matters into his own hands, curling a low free-kick inches wide of Foster's left-hand upright.

It was of no surprise though to Stoke’s travelling fans that the Potters would not muster an early goal as they remain the only team in England not to have scored in the opening 15 minutes of a match this season.

Birmingham started to come back into the game as the first half drew to a close with David Bentley and Sebastian Larsson providing some energy down the flanks as they tried to capitalise on the frailties of Stoke’s stand-in full backs Danny Pugh and Marc Wilson.

The only notable moment of the second half came when Huth looked to have handled Bentley’s effort with a raised arm but referee Mark Halsey waved played on as the German cleverly fell to the ground clutching his face.

As the game petered out and seemed destined for a goalless draw, Zigic then rose highest in the box to ensure Birmingham hold the bragging rights between these two Midland’s rivals until next time.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis could not hide his frustration after the game after seeing his side surrender a point in a game they were rarely troubled in:  “Asmir Begovic should have cuddled that ball, it shouldn't have come off him as it did, but up to that I thought we defended very well. The disappointing thing is that, from a game we thought we'd seen out, we ended up losing.”