DENMARK PROFILE: The Danes' team-work is solid but they lack enough individual flair to outgun their rivals according to Paul Doyle

After they besmirched Euro 2000 with their wretched play, no one could have anticipated Denmark hurtling to the top of a World Cup qualifying group containing the Czech Republic. But, after sacking coach Bo Johansson, that's just what they did, reaching the Finals without suffering a single loss.

New manager Morten Olsen cajoled Michael Laudrup, the symbol of the successful generation the current crop must emulate, to briefly act as his assistant, but no one in the present squad comes close to taking his title as Denmark's most gifted player ever.

Midfielders Martin Jorgnsen and Jesper Gronkjaer (neither of whom are guaranteed a starting place) certainly have the speed to trouble defenders, and attack-minded Dennis Rommendahl is a serious menace, but overall Denmark's prime asset is their team-work rather than individual flair.

AC Milan's Thomas Helveg is one of the team's mainstays, permanently placed on the right-hand of a midfield marshalled, in theory, by Charlton's Claus Jensen and energetic Evertonian Thomas Gravesen. Driven by a noble work ethic, these should not be over-powered by Senegal, but a recent friendly encounter proved they haven't a hope of matching France.

Their defence is centred on Martin Laursen, a stout performer in Serie A, and Sunderland goalkeeper Tomas Sorenson is as capable an heir to Peter Schmeichel's throne as could be reasonably expected. But the rest of the defence - Stig Tofting, Rene Henriksen, and Jan Heintze - face a World Cup roasting, and not just because of the Korean sun.

For goals, Denmark look to the lumbering but lethal Ebbe Sand (9 goals in 10 qualifiers) ... and do their best to avoid passing to Jon Dahl Tomasson, a gangly galoot who must have trouble even finishing his dinner let alone a swift move.

42,000 people went to Lansdowne Road last March to see the Danes get pasted 3-0 by Ireland. Those fans will be glad they got a glimpse of them then, because they won't be seeing much of them at the World Cup. Three games and they're out.

Squad:

Goalkeepers
1-Thomas Sorensen (Sunderland/Eng), 16-Peter Kjaer (Aberdeen/Sco), 22-Jesper Christiansen (Kejle)

Defenders
20-Kasper Bogelund (PSV Eindhoven/Ned), 5-Jan Heintze (PSV Eindhoven/Ned), 6-Thomas Helveg (AC Milan/Ita), 3-Rene Henriksen (Panathinaikos/Gre), 12-Niclas Jensen (Manchester City/Eng), 4-Martin Laursen (AC Milan/Ita), 13-Steven Lustu (Lyn Oslo)

Midfielders
7-Thomas Gravesen (Everton/Eng), 14-Claus Jensen (Charlton/Eng), 23-Brian Steen Nielsen (Malmo/Swe), 17-Christian Poulsen (FC Copenhagen), 15-Jan Michaelsen (Panathinaikos/Gre), 2-Stig Tofting (Bolton/Eng)

Forwards
8-Jesper Gronkjaer (Chelsea/Eng), 10-Martin Jorgensen (Udinese/Ita), 18-Peter Lovenkrands (Rangers/Sco), 21-Peter Madsen (Brondby), 19-Dennis Rommedahl (PSV Eindhoven/Ned), 11-Ebbe Sand (Schalke 04/Ger), 9-Jon Dahl Tomasson (Feyenoord/Ned)