Denmark v Switzerland October 1972
Programme of the Week Denmark v Switzerland 4th October 1972
This week’s programme of the week comes from almost exactly 47 years ago. Denmark and Switzerland played a friendly international at the Idraetsparken in Copenhagen. The game ended in a 1-1 draw and was played in front of 10,500 spectators.
Switzerland opened the scoring through Walter Balmer, a midfielder from FC Basel, in the 16th minute. Denmark equalised four minutes later through John Steen Olsen, a midfielder playing for Utrecht. Latterly, as a scout for Ajax in Scandinavia, Olsen was responsible for ‘discovering’ Jesper Gronkjaer; Christian Eriksen and Zlatan Ibrahimovic!
The best known player on either side was Allan Simonsen – at that time playing for Vejle. This was his first spell at the club prior to his illustrious career with Borussia Monchengladbach, Barcelona and Charlton Athletic!
All the Swiss team were home based, with FC Basel providing six of the team.
The Danish team were spread further afield. There were two players from Utrecht; Centre forward Eigil Nielsen played for Winterthur in Switzerland. Two player represented clubs intriguingly named B.1901 & B.1903.
The match programme itself has a white and sepia cover. It features a football related statue by the prolific Danish sculptor Knud Nellemose, famous for his figures of sportsmen. It’s an 8 page issue, light on content, with the teams, in formation, on the centre pages. It cost 1 Danish Kroner!
Denmark v Switzerland 2019
So, what’s happening in 2019? Today, 12th October, it’s Denmark v Switzerland in Group D of the European Championship Qualifiers.
It’s a crucial game with the two sides second and third in the group, behind leaders Eire. If the leaders beat Georgia in today’s other gamer their position is pretty unassailable. However, if Eire slip up a wind for either Denmark of Switzerland would put them top of the group.
However, Switzerland also have a game in hand in the group.
Current form in the competition is no guide to the outcome. Each side has two wins and two draws in their last four matches.
Switzerland are likely to have English based, native Albanians Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka in their team. Denmark will have their own premier league stars in the team including Christian Eriksen and Kaspar Schmeichel.
The game will be played at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, which became the national stadium when the Idraetsparken was closed in 1990.