View source for UEFA Euro 1992 final

{{good article}}
{{Short description|Final game of the UEFA Euro 1992}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox football match
| title = UEFA Euro 1992 final
| image = Ullevi stadium in gothenburg 20060510.jpg
| caption = The match was played at the [[Ullevi]] ''(pictured in 2006)'' in [[Gothenburg]].
| alt = Ullevi
| event = [[UEFA Euro 1992]]
| team1 = [[Denmark national football team|Denmark]]
| team1association = {{flagdeco|DEN|size=30px}}
| team1score = 2
| team2 = [[Germany national football team|Germany]]
| team2association = {{flagdeco|GER|size=30px}}
| team2score = 0
| details = 
| date = {{Start date|1992|6|26|df=y}}
| stadium = [[Ullevi|Nya Ullevi]]
| city = [[Gothenburg]]
| referee = [[Bruno Galler]] ([[Swiss Football Association|Switzerland]])
| attendance = 37,800
| previous = [[UEFA Euro 1988 final|1988]]
| next = [[UEFA Euro 1996 final|1996]]
}}
The '''UEFA Euro 1992 final''' was the final match of [[UEFA Euro 1992]], the ninth [[UEFA European Championship|European Championship]], [[UEFA]]'s top [[association football|football]] competition for national teams. The match was played at the [[Ullevi|Nya Ullevi]] in [[Gothenburg]], Sweden, on 26 June 1992, and was contested between [[Denmark national football team|Denmark]] and [[Germany national football team|Germany]]. Denmark reached the final despite officially qualifying for the tournament ten days before it commenced, following [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]]'s ejection by UEFA as a result of the [[Breakup of Yugoslavia|breakup of the country]].

En route to the final, Denmark faced [[England national football team|England]], [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]] and [[France national football team|France]] in the [[UEFA Euro 1992 Group 1|group stage]], finishing second, before a [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalty shoot-out]] victory over the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]] in the semi-finals saw them progress to their first European Championship final. Meanwhile, Germany finished second in [[UEFA Euro 1992 Group 2|Group 2]], played alongside the [[CIS national football team|CIS]], [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] and the Netherlands, before defeating 3–2 Sweden in the semi-finals.

The final took place in front of an audience of 37,800, and was [[Referee (association football)|refereed]] by [[Bruno Galler]] from Switzerland. Denmark won the match 2–0 thanks to goals from [[John Jensen]] and [[Kim Vilfort]] in an upset, securing their first European Championship title. Due to its circumstances, Denmark's tournament victory is often considered to be one of the biggest shocks in international football.

==Background==
[[UEFA Euro 1992]] was the ninth edition of the [[UEFA European Football Championship]], [[UEFA]]'s football competition for national teams.<ref name=encycbrit>{{Cite encyclopedia | url = https://www.britannica.com/sports/European-Championship | encyclopedia = [[Encyclopædia Britannica]] | title = European Championship | date = 19 November 2020| access-date = 10 July 2021 | first1=Adam |last1=Augustyn|first2=Melinda |last2= C. Shepherd|first3=Yamini|last3= Chauhan|first4=Michael|last4= Levy | first5= Gloria |last5= Lotha| first6= Amy| last6= Tikkanen | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210629092747/https://www.britannica.com/sports/European-Championship | archive-date = 29 June 2021 | url-status= live}}</ref> [[UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying|Qualifying rounds]] were played on a home-and-away [[round-robin tournament]] basis prior to the final tournament taking place in Sweden, between 10 and 26 June 1992.<ref name=uefasum/>  Ten days before UEFA Euro 1992 commenced, [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]] were [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 757|disqualified]] as a result of the [[Breakup of Yugoslavia|breakup of the country]] and the ensuing [[Yugoslav Wars|warfare]] there.  [[Denmark national football team|Denmark]] were brought into the tournament as replacements,<ref name=bbcsaj>{{cite web |title=Euro 1992: Denmark's fairytale |first=Saj |last=Chowdhury |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17757335 |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |date=12 May 2012 |access-date=26 July 2021 |archive-date=4 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504022302/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17757335 |url-status=live }}</ref> with nine days to prepare.{{sfn|O'Brien|2021|p=181}} The eight qualified teams were divided into two groups of four with each team playing one another once. The winners of each group then faced the runners-up from the other group in semi-finals, the winners progressing to the final.<ref name=uefasum>{{Cite web | url = https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/025a-0eb91faf9bf0-942d69c5a0a8-1000--euro-1992-all-you-need-to-know/?iv=true | publisher = [[UEFA]] | title = Euro 1992: all you need to know | date = 17 February 2020 | access-date = 26 July 2021 | archive-date = 26 July 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210726172641/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/025a-0eb91faf9bf0-942d69c5a0a8-1000--euro-1992-all-you-need-to-know/?iv=true | url-status = dead }}</ref>

In the previous international tournament, the [[1990 FIFA World Cup]], Denmark failed to qualify for the finals, finishing in second place in [[1990 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 1|group 1]], one point behind [[Romania national football team|Romania]].<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/tables/90q.html | website = [[RSSSF]] | access-date = 1 August 2021 | title = World Cup 1990 Qualifying | first1 = Karel | last1 = Stokkermans | first2 = Sergio | last2 = Henrique Jarreta | date = 13 January 2011 | archive-date = 14 October 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121014121122/http://www.rsssf.com/tables/90q.html | url-status = live }}</ref>  Germany had won the tournament, beating [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] 1–0 in [[1990 FIFA World Cup Final|the final]].<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/tables/90full.html | website = [[RSSSF]] | access-date = 1 August 2021 | title = World Cup 1990 | archive-date = 8 January 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180108053524/http://www.rsssf.com/tables/90full.html | url-status = live }}</ref>  The UEFA Euro 1992 Final was the 22nd meeting between the sides, with Denmark winning 6, Germany being victorious 13 times, the remaining matches ending in draws;<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.11v11.com/teams/denmark/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Germany/ | website = 11v11 | publisher = AFS Enterprises | access-date = 1 August 2021 | title = Denmark national football team: record v Germany | archive-date = 1 August 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210801172004/https://www.11v11.com/teams/denmark/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Germany/ | url-status = live }}</ref>  the teams had played one another in [[UEFA Euro 1988]], in [[UEFA Euro 1988 Group 1|the group stage]], where Germany won 2–0.<ref>{{Cite news | url = https://www.11v11.com/matches/germany-v-denmark-14-june-1988-241158/ | newspaper = 11V11.Com | publisher = AFS Enterprises | access-date = 1 August 2021 | title = Germany v Denmark, 14 June 1988 | archive-date = 1 August 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210801172002/https://www.11v11.com/matches/germany-v-denmark-14-june-1988-241158/ | url-status = live }}</ref>  The UEFA Euro 1992 Final marked Germany's fourth final in six European Championships while Denmark were making their first appearance in the tournament decider.<ref name=encycbrit/>

==Route to the final==
===Denmark===
Denmark were assigned to [[UEFA Euro 1992 Group 1]] where their opponents were [[France national football team|France]], [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]] and [[England national football team|England]].<ref name=groups>{{Cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/tables/92e-full.html | title = European Championship 1992 – Final Tournament – Full Details | first = Barrie | last = Courtney | access-date = 1 August 2021 | date = 22 June 2004 | website = [[RSSSF]] | archive-date = 21 April 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200421174257/http://www.rsssf.com/tables/92e-full.html | url-status = live }}</ref>  The first group match saw Denmark face England at the [[Stadion, Malmö|Stadion]] in [[Malmö]] on 11 June 1992 in front of 26,385 spectators.<ref>{{Cite news | url = https://www.11v11.com/matches/denmark-v-england-11-june-1992-243584/ | newspaper = 11V11.Com | publisher = AFS Enterprises | access-date = 1 August 2021 | title = Denmark v England, 11 June 1992 | archive-date = 1 August 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210801174729/https://www.11v11.com/matches/denmark-v-england-11-june-1992-243584/ | url-status = live }}</ref>  England's starting eleven had been weakened through injuries to [[Paul Parker (footballer)|Paul Parker]], [[Lee Dixon]], [[Gary Stevens (footballer, born 1963)|Gary Stevens]] and [[Rob Jones (footballer, born 1971)|Rob Jones]], prompting Denmark goalkeeper [[Peter Schmeichel]] to remark to his teammates, "Hey guys, we have a shot here".{{sfn|O'Brien|2021|p=182}}   [[David Platt (footballer)|David Platt]]'s first-half shot was saved by Schmeichel who also pushed [[Alan Smith (footballer, born 1962)|Alan Smith]]'s shot round the goalpost.  [[Paul Merson]]'s strike was then off-target after he had [[dribbling|dribbled]] past three Denmark defenders.{{sfn|O'Brien|2021|p=182}}  The second half saw Denmark in the ascendancy and [[Bent Christensen Arensøe|Bent Christensen]] passed to [[John Jensen]] whose shot struck the inside of the goalpost and bounced back into the hands of the England goalkeeper [[Chris Woods]].  [[Kim Vilfort]] missed a late [[Cross (association football)|cross]] from [[Kim Christofte]] and the match ended goalless.{{sfn|O'Brien|2021|p=183}} 

Denmark's second game, played three days later at the [[Råsunda Stadium]] in [[Solna]], was against [[Denmark–Sweden football rivalry|their rivals]] Sweden.<ref>{{Cite news | url = https://www.11v11.com/matches/sweden-v-denmark-14-june-1992-243589/ | title = Sweden v Denmark, 14 June 1992 | newspaper = 11V11.Com | publisher = AFS Enterprises | access-date = 1 August 2021 | archive-date = 1 August 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210801174730/https://www.11v11.com/matches/sweden-v-denmark-14-june-1992-243589/ | url-status = live }}</ref>  [[Martin Dahlin]] struck a shot over the Denmark crossbar midway through the first half before Christofte's [[Free kick (association football)|free kick]] was saved by Sweden goalkeeper [[Thomas Ravelli]], and the game was 0–0 at the interval. In the 59th minute, Dahlin's cross was cleared by [[Lars Olsen]] but the ball fell to [[Tomas Brolin]] who struck it into the Denmark goal. He and Denmark's [[Torben Frank]] both missed late chances to score and the match ended 1–0 to Sweden.{{sfn|O'Brien|2021|p=184}} 

[[File:Peter Schmeichel juli 1991.JPG|upright|alt=Peter Schmeichel|thumb|Peter Schmeichel ''(pictured in 1991)'' saved a penalty in the semi-final.]]
In the final group match, Denmark played France at the Stadion in Malmö on 17 June 1992.<ref>{{Cite news | url = https://www.11v11.com/matches/france-v-denmark-17-june-1992-243597/ | title = France v Denmark, 17 June 1992 | newspaper = 11V11.Com | publisher = AFS Enterprises | access-date = 1 August 2021 | archive-date = 1 August 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210801175727/https://www.11v11.com/matches/france-v-denmark-17-june-1992-243597/ | url-status = live }}</ref>  Vilfort, who had returned to Denmark to be with his terminally-ill daughter, was replaced by [[Henrik Larsen]], who gave his side an early lead with a [[Volley (association football)|volley]] into the roof of France's net from a [[Flemming Povlsen]] [[Header (association football)|header]].{{sfn|O'Brien|2021|p=184}}  After half-time, Schmeichel made saves from [[Didier Deschamps]], [[Eric Cantona]] and a long-distance strike by [[Substitute (association football)|substitute]] [[Luis Fernandez]]. Just after the hour-mark, France equalised when [[Jean-Pierre Papin]]'s curling strike beat Schmeichel and flew into the top corner of Denmark's goal. Deschamps then shot wide before Povlsen's cross found [[Lars Elstrup]] who tapped the ball into the France goal to restore Denmark's lead; the match ended 2&ndash;1.{{sfn|O'Brien|2021|p=185}}

Ending the group stage as runners-up, Denmark faced [[UEFA Euro 1992 Group 2|group 2]] winners, the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]] in the semi-final, played on 22 June 1992 at the [[Ullevi|Nya Ullevi]] in [[Gothenburg]].<ref name=groups/><ref>{{Cite news | url = https://www.11v11.com/matches/denmark-v-netherlands-22-june-1992-243615/ | title = Denmark v Netherlands, 22 June 1992 | newspaper = 11V11.Com | publisher = AFS Enterprises | access-date = 1 August 2021 | archive-date = 1 August 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210801180128/https://www.11v11.com/matches/denmark-v-netherlands-22-june-1992-243615/ | url-status = live }}</ref>  Five minutes into the match, Denmark's [[Brian Laudrup]] dispossessed [[Frank de Boer]] and crossed the ball:  [[Hans van Breukelen]], the Netherlands goalkeeper missed his punch, allowing Larsen to score at the far post with a header. Midway through the half, [[Frank Rijkaard]] headed a cross from [[Rob Witschge]] to [[Dennis Bergkamp]] who beat Schmeichel with a shot that bounced just in front of him, to level the score. In the 32nd minute, Denmark retook the lead when Larsen scored his second, converting when [[Ronald Koeman]] cleared a Laudrup header. The second half saw further Denmark attempts to score before losing [[Henrik Andersen]] with a serious knee injury.   The Netherlands increased the pressure and with five minutes of the match remaining scored the equaliser as Rijkaard headed in from a Witschge cross. The match ended 2–2 and went into [[extra time]] where despite chances for the Netherlands, the score remained unchanged and a [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalty shoot-out]] was required.{{sfn|O'Brien|2021|p=199}}  Koeman and Larsen scored either side's opening penalties before [[Marco van Basten]]'s strike was saved by Schmeichel. All the remaining penalties were scored, with Denmark's Christofte despatching the winning strike, with his side progressing to the final 5–4 in the shoot-out.{{sfn|O'Brien|2021|p=200}}  Olsen later suggested that in his opinion, the semi-final was "the best match a Danish team has ever played."{{sfn|O'Brien|2021|p=198}}

===Germany===
Germany were in UEFA Euro 1992 Group 2 where they faced the [[CIS national football team|Commonwealth of Independent States]] (CIS), the Netherlands and [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]].<ref name=groups/>  In their first group match, Germany played against the CIS at [[Norrköpings Idrottspark|Idrottsparken]] in [[Norrköping]]  on 12 June 1992.<ref>{{Cite news | url = https://www.11v11.com/matches/cis-v-germany-12-june-1992-243586/ | title = CIS v Germany, 12 June 1992 | newspaper = 11V11.Com | publisher = AFS Enterprises | access-date = 1 August 2021 | archive-date = 1 August 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210801192024/https://www.11v11.com/matches/cis-v-germany-12-june-1992-243586/ | url-status = live }}</ref> The game commenced with the CIS adopting a highly defensive formation restricting Germany to a shot from [[Guido Buchwald]], a header from [[Rudi Völler]] and a strike from [[Thomas Häßler]], all of which were off-target.{{sfn|O'Brien|2021|pp=189–190}}  The CIS were limited to one chance to score, when [[Igor Dobrovolski]]'s high cross bounced off the top of Germany's crossbar. Midway through the second half, [[Stefan Reuter]] fouled Dobrovolski who scored the resulting [[Penalty kick (association football)|penalty]] to give the CIS a 1–0 lead. Germany then saw off-target attempts from Häßler, [[Karl-Heinz Riedle]] and Buchwald but one minute into [[stoppage time]], [[Thomas Doll]] won a free kick after being pushed over by [[Dmitri Kuznetsov (footballer, born 1965)|Dmitri Kuznetsov]]. Häßler's strike passed over [[Jürgen Klinsmann]], who ducked, and past the CIS goalkeeper [[Dmitri Kharine]] to secure a 1–1 draw.{{sfn|O'Brien|2021|p=190}}  
[[File:Karl-Heinz Riedle, 2012.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Karl-Heinz Riedle|Karl-Heinz Riedle scored three goals during Germany's passage to the final, including two in the semi-final.]]

Germany's second game was against Scotland at the Idrottsparken in Norrköping on 15 June 1992.<ref>{{Cite news | url = https://www.11v11.com/matches/scotland-v-germany-15-june-1992-243593/ | title = Scotland v Germany, 15 June 1992 | newspaper = 11V11.Com | publisher = AFS Enterprises | access-date = 1 August 2021 | archive-date = 1 August 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210801193712/https://www.11v11.com/matches/scotland-v-germany-15-june-1992-243593/ | url-status = live }}</ref>  The early chances to score fell to Scotland: [[Richard Gough]]'s whose header was tipped over the crossbar by Germany goalkeeper [[Bodo Illgner]], who then saved the ball at the feet of [[Brian McClair]] before [[Gary McAllister]]'s volley from the resulting corner was wide.{{sfn|O'Brien|2021|pp=190–191}}  [[Dave McPherson (footballer)|Davie McPherson]] then struck McAllister's free kick off-target before Klinsmann's header hit Scotland goalkeeper [[Andy Goram]]'s shins. In the 30th minute, Germany took the lead when Riedle struck the ball through Klinsmann's legs and past an unsighted Gorman. A minute into the second half Germany doubled their lead when a cross from [[Stefan Effenberg]] took a large deflection off [[Maurice Malpas]] and looped high in the air and into the Scotland goal. Both sides had several chances to score throughout the second half, with [[Andreas Möller]] and Häßler striking the ball against the Scotland goal frame and Illgner making saves against [[Ally McCoist]] and [[Paul McStay]], and the match ended 2–0.{{sfn|O'Brien|2021|p=191}}

In their final group match, Germany played against the Netherlands at Nya Ullevi in Gothenburg on 18 June 1992.<ref>{{Cite news | url = https://www.11v11.com/matches/netherlands-v-germany-18-june-1992-243600/ | title = Netherlands v Germany, 18 June 1992 | newspaper = 11V11.Com | publisher = AFS Enterprises | access-date = 1 August 2021 | archive-date = 1 August 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210801193938/https://www.11v11.com/matches/netherlands-v-germany-18-june-1992-243600/ | url-status = live }}</ref>  In the third minute, [[Jürgen Kohler]] fouled van Basten {{convert|30|yd}} out from the Germany goal to concede a free kick which Ronald Koeman struck into the penalty area. Rijkaard out-jumped Effenberg and headed the ball into the Germany goal with Illgner stationary to give the Netherlands a 1–0. Häßler's shot was then saved by van Breukelen before the Netherlands doubled their advantage after Witschge's low shot from a Koeman free kick passed through a gap in the defensive [[Glossary of association football terms#W|wall]] and into the net. Further chances to score fell to the Netherlands including van Basten hitting the Germany crossbar, and Illgner making saves against both [[Ruud Gullit]] and Rijkaard. Eight minutes into the second half, Klinsmann rose above de Boer to head a corner from Häßler to make it 2–1 and Germany began to dominate the match.  [[Aron Winter]] was then brought on by the Netherlands to replace de Boer.{{sfn|O'Brien|2021|p=193}}  In the 71st minute, it was his cross that found Bergkamp whose diving header found the Germany net to restore the Netherlands' two-goal lead and the match ended 3–1.{{sfn|O'Brien|2021|p=194}}

Germany ended as runners-up in the group and thus faced Sweden in the semi-final at the Råsunda Stadion in Solna on 21 June 1992,<ref name=groups/><ref>{{Cite news | url = https://www.11v11.com/matches/sweden-v-germany-21-june-1992-243611/ | title = Sweden v Germany, 21 June 1992 | newspaper = 11V11.Com | publisher = AFS Enterprises | access-date = 1 August 2021 | archive-date = 1 August 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210801194159/https://www.11v11.com/matches/sweden-v-germany-21-june-1992-243611/ | url-status = live }}</ref> their fourth appearance in the final four of the European Championship in six tournaments.{{sfn|O'Brien|2021|p=197}}  Early in the match, Klinsmann played a [[push and run|one-two]] with Riedle and saw his shot saved by Sweden's goalkeeper Ravelli. In the 11th minute, [[Jan Eriksson (footballer born 1967)|Jan Eriksson]] fouled Riedle and Häßler struck the resulting free kick into the goal with Ravelli not moving. Brehme's shot then struck the crossbar before Ravelli saved another of his attempts. Just before the hour mark, [[Matthias Sammer]]'s low cross was converted by Riedle to double Germany's lead. Five minutes later, [[Thomas Helmer]] conceded a penalty when he fouled [[Klas Ingesson]], with Brolin scoring from the spot to make it 2–1. With two minutes of the match remaining, Germany made it 3–1 through Riedle before [[Kennet Andersson]]'s header from an Ingesson cross meant the match ended 3–2 and Germany progressed to their third European Championship final in four tournaments.{{sfn|O'Brien|2021|p=198}}

===Summary===
{| style="width:100%;text-align:center"
|- style="vertical-align:top;background:#99CCFF"
!colspan="2"|Denmark
!Round
!colspan="2"|Germany
|- style="vertical-align:top;background:#C1E0FF"
|Opponent
|Result
||[[UEFA Euro 1992#Group stage|Group stage]]
|Opponent
|Result
|-
|{{fb|ENG}}
|[[UEFA Euro 1992 Group 1#Denmark vs England|0–0]]
|style="background:#c1e0ff"|Match 1
|{{fb|CIS}}
|[[UEFA Euro 1992 Group 2#CIS vs Germany|1–1]]
|-
|{{fb|SWE}}
|[[UEFA Euro 1992 Group 1#Sweden vs Denmark|0–1]]
|style="background:#c1e0ff"|Match 2
|{{fb|SCO}}
|[[UEFA Euro 1992 Group 2#Scotland vs Germany|2–0]]
|-
|{{fb|FRA}}
|[[UEFA Euro 1992 Group 1#France vs Denmark|2–1]]
|style="background:#c1e0ff"|Match 3
|{{fb|NED}}
|[[UEFA Euro 1992 Group 2#Netherlands vs Germany|1–3]]
|-
|colspan="2" style="text-align:center"|'''[[UEFA Euro 1992 Group 1|Group 1]] runners-up'''
<div class="center">{{UEFA Euro 1992 group tables|Group 1|only_pld_pts=yes|showteam=DEN}}</div>
|style="background:#c1e0ff"|Final standings
|colspan="2" style="text-align:center"|'''[[UEFA Euro 1992 Group 2|Group 2]] runners-up'''
<div class="center">{{UEFA Euro 1992 group tables|Group 2|only_pld_pts=yes|showteam=GER}}</div>
|- style="vertical-align:top;background:#c1e0ff"
|Opponent
|Result
||[[UEFA Euro 1992 knockout stage|Knockout stage]]
|Opponent
|Result
|-
|{{fb|NED}}
|[[UEFA Euro 1992 knockout stage#Netherlands vs Denmark|2–2]] {{aet}} {{pso|5–4}}
|style="background:#c1e0ff"|Semi-finals
|{{fb|SWE}}
|[[UEFA Euro 1992 knockout stage#Sweden vs Germany|3–2]]
|}

==Match==
===Pre-match===
Germany had one extra day to prepare for the final and selected the same starting eleven as they used in the semi-final.  [[Kent Nielsen]] was restored to Denmark's team in place of Andersen who was both injured and suspended.{{sfn|Kier|2018|p=556}}  The final was [[Referee (association football)|refereed]] by the Swiss official [[Bruno Galler]].<ref name=final>{{Cite news | url = https://www.11v11.com/matches/denmark-v-germany-26-june-1992-243617/ | newspaper = 11V11.Com | publisher = AFS Enterprises | access-date = 11 August 2021 | title = Denmark v Germany, 26 June 1992 | archive-date = 1 August 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210801173457/https://www.11v11.com/matches/denmark-v-germany-26-june-1992-243617/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

===Summary===
The final took place at the Nya Ullevi in Gothenburg on 26 June 1992 in front of 37,800 people.<ref name=final/>  Germany made the stronger start with chances to score falling to Reuter and Buchwald, both of which were saved by Schmeichel.<ref name=gatecrash/>  In the 18th minute, Vilfort took possession of the ball with a strong tackle on Brehme before passing it to Povlsen. He played it diagonally backwards in-field to the edge of the Germany penalty area where Jensen struck it first time, past Illgner high into the net to give Denmark a 1–0 lead with his second international goal in 48 games.<ref>{{Cite AV media| type = Television production | title = Denmark v Germany: UEFA EURO 92 final highlights| publisher = [[UEFA]] | via = [[YouTube]] | time= 00:29–00:36}}</ref>  Four minutes later, Schmeichel dived full-length to save a strike from Klinsmann.<ref name=guardrep/>  Effenburg then received the ball from a hooked Klinsmann pass midway into the Denmark half who ran with it before shooting from the edge of the penalty area but Schmeichel pushed the ball out.<ref>{{Cite AV media| type = Television production | title = Denmark v Germany: UEFA EURO 92 final highlights| publisher = [[UEFA]] | via = [[YouTube]] | time= 00:56–01:03}}</ref>

Soon after half-time, Germany made their first substitution of the match with Doll coming on to replace Sammer.<ref name=final/>  Midway through the second half, Denmark's [[John Sivebæk]] was brought off in favour of [[Claus Christiansen (footballer, born 1967)|Claus Christiansen]].<ref name=final/> In the 71st minute, Vilfort received the ball from Christofte before running into the Germany penalty area but struck his shot wide of the far post.<ref name=guardrep/><ref>{{Cite AV media| type = Television production | title = Denmark v Germany: UEFA EURO 92 final highlights| publisher = [[UEFA]] | via = [[YouTube]] | time= 01:09–01:15}}</ref>  Nielsen cleared a Klinsmann cross to prevent Riedle from scoring,<ref name=gatecrash/> before Klinsmann himself out-jumped two Denmark defenders to head a cross goal-bound but Schmeichel tipped it over the crossbar.<ref>{{Cite AV media| type = Television production | title = Denmark v Germany: UEFA EURO 92 final highlights| publisher = [[UEFA]] | via = [[YouTube]] | time= 01:20–01:23}}</ref>  With twelve minutes of the match remaining, a clearance from Helmer was headed by Sivebæk to Vilfort who dragged the ball back and away from two converging Germany defenders and struck a left-footed shot off the bottom of the post and into the Germany goal past a diving Illgner to make it 2–0.<ref name=guardrep/><ref>{{Cite AV media| type = Television production | title = Denmark v Germany: UEFA EURO 92 final highlights| publisher = [[UEFA]] | via = [[YouTube]] | time= 01:28–01:35}}</ref>  That remained the final score and Denmark secured their first European Championship.<ref name=bbcsaj/>

===Details===
<section begin=final />{{Football box
|date={{Start date|1992|6|26|df=y}}
|time=20:15 <noinclude>[[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]</noinclude>
|team1={{fb-rt|DEN}}
|score={{score link|UEFA Euro 1992 knockout stage#Final|2–0|UEFA Euro 1992 final}}
|report=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/match/6098/
|team2={{fb|GER}}
|goals1=
*[[John Jensen|Jensen]] {{goal|18}}
*[[Kim Vilfort|Vilfort]] {{goal|78}}
|goals2=
|stadium=[[Ullevi]], [[Gothenburg]]
|attendance=37,800<ref name="attendance">{{cite web |url=http://www.euro2000.org:80/en/replay/1992/denger/0,1068,,00.html |title=European Football Championship 1992 FINAL |website=euro2000.org |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |access-date=26 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817032101/http://www.euro2000.org/en/replay/1992/denger/0,1068,,00.html |archive-date=17 August 2000 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|referee=[[Bruno Galler]] ([[Swiss Football Association|Switzerland]])
}}<section end=final />
<section begin=lineups />
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|{{Football kit
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{| style="width:100%"
|-
|style="vertical-align:top;width:40%"|
{| style="font-size:90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
|-
!width="25"| !!width="25"|
|-
|GK ||'''1''' ||[[Peter Schmeichel]]
|-
|CB ||'''4''' ||[[Lars Olsen]] ([[Captain (association football)|c]])
|-
|CB ||'''12'''||[[Torben Piechnik]] || {{yel|32}}
|-
|CB ||'''3''' ||[[Kent Nielsen]]
|-
|RWB||'''2''' ||[[John Sivebæk]] || || {{suboff|66}}
|-
|LWB||'''6''' ||[[Kim Christofte]]
|-
|CM ||'''7''' ||[[John Jensen]]
|-
|CM ||'''18'''||[[Kim Vilfort]]
|-
|AM ||'''13'''||[[Henrik Larsen]]
|-
|SS ||'''11'''||[[Brian Laudrup]]
|-
|CF ||'''9''' ||[[Flemming Povlsen]]
|-
|colspan=3|'''Substitutions:'''
|-
|DF ||'''17'''||[[Claus Christiansen (footballer, born 1967)|Claus Christiansen]] || || {{subon|66}}
|-
|colspan=3|'''Manager:'''
|-
|colspan=3|[[Richard Møller Nielsen]]
|}
|valign="top"|[[File:DEN-GER 1992-06-26.svg|300px]]
|style="vertical-align:top;width:50%"|
{| style="font-size:90%;margin:auto" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
|-
!width=25| !!width=25|
|-
|GK ||'''1''' ||[[Bodo Illgner]]
|-
|SW ||'''6''' ||[[Guido Buchwald]]
|-
|CB ||'''4''' ||[[Jürgen Kohler]]
|-
|CB ||'''14'''||[[Thomas Helmer]]
|-
|RWB||'''2''' ||[[Stefan Reuter]] || {{yel|55}}
|-
|LWB||'''3''' ||[[Andreas Brehme]] ([[Captain (association football)|c]])
|-
|CM ||'''16'''||[[Matthias Sammer]] || || {{suboff|46}}
|-
|CM ||'''17'''||[[Stefan Effenberg]] || {{yel|35}} || {{suboff|80}}
|-
|AM ||'''8''' ||[[Thomas Häßler]] || {{yel|39}}
|-
|CF ||'''11'''||[[Karl-Heinz Riedle]]
|-
|CF ||'''18'''||[[Jürgen Klinsmann]] || {{yel|88}}
|-
|colspan=3|'''Substitutions:'''
|-
|MF ||'''10'''||[[Thomas Doll]] || {{yel|83}} || {{subon|46}}
|-
|FW ||'''13'''||[[Andreas Thom]] || || {{subon|80}}
|-
|colspan=3|'''Manager:'''
|-
|colspan=3|[[Berti Vogts]]
|}
|}
{| style="width:100%;font-size:90%"
|
'''Linesmen:'''<ref name="officials">{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/match/6098--denmark-vs-germany/ |title=UEFA EURO 1992 – History – Denmark-Germany |publisher=UEFA |access-date=26 December 2017}}</ref>
<br />Zivanko Popović ([[Swiss Football Association|Switzerland]])
<br />Paul Wyttenbach ([[Swiss Football Association|Switzerland]])
<br />'''Fourth official:'''
<br />[[Kurt Röthlisberger]] ([[Swiss Football Association|Switzerland]])
<includeonly>|}</includeonly><section end=lineups />
|style="width:60%;vertical-align:top"|
'''Match rules'''{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}
*90 minutes
*30 minutes of [[Overtime (sports)#Association football|extra time]] if necessary
*[[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|Penalty shoot-out]] if scores still level
*Maximum of two substitutions
|}

==Post-match==
Denmark's Schmeichel and Laudrup, along with Germany's Brehme, Kohler, Effenberg and Häßler, were all named in UEFA's team of the tournament.<ref name=uefasum/> Germany's [[Manager (association football)|manager]] [[Berti Vogts]] suggested that conceding the first goal had a detrimental effect on his side, "after going a goal behind, we fell into the headless chicken syndrome."<ref name=guardrep>{{Cite web | url = https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/83228819/the-guardian/ | work = [[The Guardian]] | access-date = 11 August 2021 | title = Inspired fairy-tale enters Danish folklore | date = 27 June 1992 | page = 20 | first = David | last = Lacey | via = [[Newspapers.com]] | archive-date = 11 August 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210811151753/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/83228819/the-guardian/ | url-status = live }}</ref>  Schmeichel said "it really sank in when we were in Copenhagen in the town hall for the celebrations with the rest of Denmark. That was unbelievable, truly unbelievable."<ref name=gatecrash>{{cite web |title=Gatecrashing Denmark down Germany |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d7b301f026e-4388f32eaa87-1000--gatecrashing-denmark-down-germany-in-euro-1992-final/ |publisher=[[UEFA]] |date=5 October 2003 |access-date=11 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621082724/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=1992/matches/round=217/match=6098/postmatch/report/index.html |archive-date=21 June 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>  Vilfort later said "We had fantastic spirit. The team wanted to win and that's a very good thing when you're at the highest level{{nbsp}}... We didn't have the best players, but we had the best team."<ref name=bbcsaj/> [[Jan Mølby]], who was not part of the Denmark squad during the tournament,{{sfn|Kier|2018|p=562}} later said "In 1992, it was a big surprise for everybody{{nbsp}}... It shows what team spirit and confidence is able to do."<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.espn.co.uk/football/uefa-european-championship/story/4427228/euro-2020-denmark-are-used-to-defying-the-odds-just-ask-the-team-that-won-euro-1992 | first = Rob | last = Dawson | publisher = [[ESPN]] | access-date = 11 August 2021 | title = Euro 2020: Denmark are used to defying the odds. Just ask the team that won Euro 1992 | date = 6 July 2021 | archive-date = 11 August 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210811160040/https://www.espn.co.uk/football/uefa-european-championship/story/4427228/euro-2020-denmark-are-used-to-defying-the-odds-just-ask-the-team-that-won-euro-1992 | url-status = live }}</ref>  Reflecting at the time on [[1992 Danish Maastricht Treaty referendum|Denmark's recent referendum]] where they decided against joining the European Union, the Danish foreign secretary [[Uffe Ellemann-Jensen]] joked "If you can't join them, beat them".<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/euro-icons-1992-peter-schmeichel-the-great-dane_sto7776495/story.shtml | publisher = [[Eurosport]] | title = Euro icons – 1992: Peter Schmeichel, the great Dane and a victory which no one saw coming{{nbsp}}... | first = Mike | last = Gibbons | access-date = 11 August 2021 | date = 5 June 2021 | archive-date = 5 June 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210605084730/https://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/euro-icons-1992-peter-schmeichel-the-great-dane_sto7776495/story.shtml | url-status = live }}</ref>

Denmark's victory has been described as one of the biggest shocks in international football history, and is listed by UEFA as one of the most surprising results in the European Championship.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1216595-world-footballs-25-biggest-euro-tournament-upsets-of-all-time | publisher = [[Bleacher Report]] | title = World Football's 25 Biggest Euro Tournament Upsets of All Time | first = Thomas | last = Atzenhoffer | access-date = 11 August 2021 | date = 11 June 2012 | archive-date = 11 August 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210811155510/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1216595-world-footballs-25-biggest-euro-tournament-upsets-of-all-time | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| url = https://www.the42.ie/power-ranking-11-biggest-upsets-international-football-2025565-Apr2015/| website = [[The42.ie]]| access-date = 11 August 2021| title = Power ranking the 11 biggest upsets in the history of international football| date = 1 April 2015| archive-date = 11 August 2021| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210811155510/https://www.the42.ie/power-ranking-11-biggest-upsets-international-football-2025565-Apr2015/| url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/0255-0d9f316992eb-e39a90073715-1000--euro-s-biggest-upsets/ | publisher = [[UEFA]] | access-date = 11 August 2021 | date = 27 June 2021 | title = Biggest shocks in Euro history | archive-date = 11 August 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210811155510/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/0255-0d9f316992eb-e39a90073715-1000--euro-s-biggest-upsets/ | url-status = dead }}</ref>  The [[BBC]] and ''[[The Guardian]]'' both called it a "fairy tale".<ref name = bbcsaj/><ref name=guardrep/> 

In the next international tournament, the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]], Denmark failed to progress from [[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 3|their qualifying group]], finishing third behind [[Spain national football team|Spain]] and the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]].<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/tables/94qual.html | title = World Cup 1994 qualifications | website = [[RSSSF]] | access-date = 2 August 2021 | archive-date = 11 May 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110511105448/http://www.rsssf.com/tables/94qual.html | url-status = live }}</ref>  Germany were knocked out at the [[1994 FIFA World Cup knockout stage#Quarter-finals|quarter-final stage]] by [[Bulgaria national football team|Bulgaria]].<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/tables/94full.html | title = World Cup 1994 | website = [[RSSSF]] | access-date = 2 August 2021 | archive-date = 19 December 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171219031509/http://www.rsssf.com/tables/94full.html | url-status = live }}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Denmark at the UEFA European Championship]]
*[[Germany at the UEFA European Championship]]

==References==
{{reflist|refs=

<ref name=bbcsaj>{{cite web |title=Euro 1992: Denmark's fairytale |first=Saj |last=Chowdhury |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17757335 |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |date=12 May 2012 |access-date=26 July 2021 |archive-date=4 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504022302/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17757335 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name=uefasum>{{Cite web | url = https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/025a-0eb91faf9bf0-942d69c5a0a8-1000--euro-1992-all-you-need-to-know/?iv=true | publisher = [[UEFA]] | title = Euro 1992: all you need to know | date = 17 February 2020 | access-date = 26 July 2021 | archive-date = 26 July 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210726172641/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/025a-0eb91faf9bf0-942d69c5a0a8-1000--euro-1992-all-you-need-to-know/?iv=true | url-status = dead }}</ref>

}}

===Bibliography===
*{{Cite book| title = The European Championship – A Complete History (Part 2: 1980–1992)| first = Richard | last = Kier | publisher = Rowanvale Books Ltd | isbn = 978-1-9126-5541-0| year = 2018 | location= [[Cardiff]]}}
*{{Cite book| title = Euro Summits: The Story of the UEFA European Championship | first = Jonathan | last = O'Brien | publisher = Pitch Publishing | isbn= 978-1-78531-849-8 | year= 2021| location= [[Worthing]]}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20111116161917/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=1992/index.html UEFA Euro 1992 official website]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDe2N9ykR6A Denmark v Germany: UEFA Euro 92 final highlights] on [[YouTube]]
{{UEFA Euro 1992}}
{{UEFA Euro 1992 finalists}}
{{UEFA European Championship}}
{{Denmark national football team matches}}
{{Germany national football team matches}}

[[Category:UEFA Euro 1992|Final]]
[[Category:UEFA European Championship finals|1992]]
[[Category:Germany national football team matches|1992 Final]]
[[Category:Denmark national football team matches|1992 Final]]
[[Category:Germany at UEFA Euro 1992| ]]
[[Category:Denmark at UEFA Euro 1992|Final]]
[[Category:International sports competitions in Gothenburg]]
[[Category:Denmark–Germany relations]]
[[Category:1990s in Gothenburg]]
[[Category:June 1992 sports events in Europe]]