Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Women’s World Cup 2007: Denmark Squad

You already know that fifth FIFA Women’s World Cup football will be started from 10 September 2007. This year China will host this most prestigious competition of women’s football. This is going to be the second time, China will host the competition. Previously, China also hosted the inaugural Women’s world cup in 1991. Germany is the defending champion of women’s world cup. In total 16 teams will participate in the upcoming women’s world cup 2007 football competition and top two teams from each group will enter in to the knock out round.

Now, ahead of Fifa Women’s World Cup 2007, all the participating teams are sorting out their mistakes and busy with their last minute preparation. Coaches and team officials are also busy in their respective fields. Final squad of some participating teams has already been declared whereas others are yet to be unveiled.

Kenneth Heiner-Moller, coach of Denmark women’s football team, has recently declared the final 21 member squad for the upcoming women’s world cup 2007 competition but I got the 28. Denmark is not a big name in women’s football and they do not have any notable performance in the previous world cup tournaments. Denmark first qualified in the first women’s world cup in 1991. Danish players could qualify for the quarter final stage where they lost to Germany. In the next world cup in 1995, Denmark also reached at the quarter final stage but this time they lost to the eventual champion Norway. From the next world cup in 1999, Denmark’s performance started going down. Demark could not qualify for the knock out stage loosing all three group stage matches. However, the worst performance came in the next world cup in 2003 where they could not even qualify for the world cup. So, the coming 2007 women’s world cup football is going to be a revival of Denmark in world football.

Coach Kenneth Heiner-Moller was former footballer who played for different clubs in different countries. Heiner-Moller included both experienced and young players in the 21-member squad. 12 players of the squad have experience of playing 40 or more matches for Denmark national women’s football team and 3 of the squad members have more than 100 match appearances for Denmark. Moreover, seven footballers of the squad have less than 10 match experiences of playing for Denmark in international stage. So, no doubt, the preliminary squad of Denmark for the upcoming women’s world cup 2007 seems to be balanced. After taking the helm of Denmark national women’s football team, Denmark has played 12 matches yet under Kenneth Heiner-Mollerk in which they won 6 matches, lost 5 and another match was draw. So, for sure, it is not a bad start for Heiner-Mollerk.

Some veterans of the squad are defender Katrine S. Pedersen, midfielder Anne Dot Eggers Nielsen and forward Merete Pedersen. Katrine S. Pedersen is the most capped players of Denmark side with 126 appearances for Denmark whereas Anne Dot Eggers Nielsen and Merete Pedersen played 111 and 115 matches respectively for Denmark women’s football team. These three experienced players are said to be the heart of three departments- Katrine Pedersen in the defense, Nielsen in the midfield and Merete Pedersen in forward- of Denmark women’s national team. Besides, these three specialists in three positions, there are some rising stars of Denmark women’s football. Striker Maiken Pape played very well in the world cup qualifying matches. Experienced mid fielder Cathrine Paaske Sørensen is also in good form.

Denmark will play in Group D where they will face 1999 finalist China, third place winner of 1999 world cup, Brazil and New Zealand. Actually, Group D is the only group where no team could ever win world cup. However, for Denmark, it will be tough to go to the next round because Brazil’s recent performance is very good and as a host country China will have some advantages. Denmark will play their first match against China on 12 September in women’s world cup 2007. So, let us see how far the Danish girls can go under the guidance of Heiner-Moller.

Here, I am giving the names of the players of Denmark squad below:

Goal Keeper
Heidi Elgard Johansen, Mette Bjerg, Susanne Graversen, Tine Cederkvist

Defender
Bettina Falk Hansen, Camilla Sand Andersen, Christina Oyangen Orntoft, Dorte Dalum Jensen, Gitte Andersen, Katrine S. Pedersen, Line Røddik Hansen, Mariann Gajhede Knudsen, Mia Bak Pedersen, Mia Olsen

Midfielder
Anne Dot Eggers Nielsen, Cathrine Paaske Sørensen, Ditte L. Larsen, Janne Madsen, Louise Hansen, Mette V. Jensen, Nanna Johansen

Forward
Johanna M. Rasmussen, Johanna M. Rasmussen, Julie Rydahl Bukh, Maiken With Pape, Marie S. Herping, Merete Pedersen, Mette Jørgensen, Stine Kjær Dimun

Source:

Official Website of Denmark Women’s Football Association

Fifa.com

Wikipedia

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