Euro 2020: 'Why not us'? Denmark keeper Kasper Schmeichel dreams of emulating father Peter's feat with continental success

Copenhagen: Kasper Schmeichel has his boots planted firmly on the ground but the 34-year-old Denmark goalkeeper dreams of repeating his father’s sensational Euro 1992 title. “You’ve got to dream big … and the question we’ve got to ask ourselves is ‘Why not us?’” the keeper recently told Danish TV2. His father Peter was the hero of Denmark’s unexpected European championship victory in Sweden almost 30 years ago. With his 129 caps from 1987 to 2001 and long career with Manchester United, Peter Schmeichel is a living legend. “When you look at the results that we can achieve when the pressure is on, we have every reason to be optimistic.” But apart from the fact that Denmark are not a favourite and that there will be a Schmeichel standing between the posts, there are not many similarities with 1992. Back then, Denmark—called up at the last minute after Yugoslavia were excluded over the war in the Balkans – were not at all prepared and managed to turn their relaxed approach to triumph. Out of the shadows There’s no need for the squad to feel the shadow of 1992 hanging over them, Poul Ferdinand, sports reporter at daily Ekstra Bladet, told AFP. “Before the Euros in 1992, the team wasn’t playing very well, there were conflicts with management. Today it’s different, the team is strong and well organised,” he said. Schmeichel, who grew up and played his entire career in the shadow of his father’s exploits, agreed, saying there’s no reason to feel intimidated by the past. “The surname’s definitely not been a help, that’s for sure, but it’s got no relevance to me at all,” he told the BBC several years ago. “That’s my name, I’ve always fielded those questions from the media, but I just get on with it.” “I think it would be easier to play a different sport.” Denmark finished second in their qualifying group behind Switzerland but ahead of the Republic of Ireland, going undefeated while scoring 23 goals and conceding just six in eight games. “The style has changed a bit” in recent years, said Ferdinand. While head coach Kasper Hjulmand has maintained the strong defensive game developed by former coach Age Hareide, “he also attacks more”. At the 2018 World Cup, Denmark’s play was lacklustre but solid, enabling them to advance to the round of 16 where they fell to eventual runners-up Croatia on penalties despite Schmeichel’s heroics. “It should be extremely difficult (for our opponents) to score … but at the same time we have to increase our ball possession closer to our opponent’s goal,” Hjulmand said ahead of the Euro. In addition to Schmeichel, Denmark will be counting on experienced defender and team captain Simon Kjaer as well as midfielders Christian Eriksen and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. Home fans will play their part too, as the Danes will stay in Copenhagen for their three Group B matches, meeting Finland on 12 June, top-ranked Belgium on 17 June and Russia on 21 June. “Expectations are pretty high but … we’re realistic, to make it to the semi-finals would be good,” Ferdinand said. “The first objective is to qualify from the group stage in the best shape possible to continue our mission,” Hjulmand said as he presented his squad.