Soaring Denmark finish off fancied France in EURO 1992 Group 1

Richard Møller-Nielsen's Denmark recovered from defeat by hosts Sweden to reach the EURO '92 semi-finals with a win against France in the concluding round of Group A games.

Lars Elstrup got on the end of Flemming Povlsen's cross from the right with 12 minutes to go as Michel Platini's side had the rug pulled out from under them in Malmo. Henrik Larsen had given Denmark and early lead, but Jean-Pierre Papin's equaliser on the hour would have been enough to put them in the last four had Elstrup not intervened.

France had come into the tournament with impressive write-ups, having won all eight of their qualifying games, but draws in their opening two Group A fixtures belied the quality of their squad. Denmark, by contrast, bore no burden of expectation, and their tenacity was evident after eight minutes as Henrik Andersen and Povlsen fashioned an opener for Larsen.

Torben Frank could easily have doubled Denmark's advantage before France equalised from nowhere, Papin hitting a smart angled shot from Jean-Philippe Durand's back-heel. Elstrup, though, was to have the final say, with France – despite the presence of the brilliant Papin and the mercurial Eric Cantona – joining England in heading for an unexpected early exit.

Lineups

France line up ahead of the Denmark gameIcon Sport via Getty Images

France: Martini; Vahirua (Fernández 46), Casoni, Blanc, Boli, Amoros (c); Durand, Perez (Cocard 79), Deschamps; Papin, Cantona
Substitutes: Silvestre, Petit, Divert, Garde, Rousset, Angloma
Coach: Michel Platini

Denmark: Schmeichel; Andersen, Kent Nielsen (Piechnik 61), Olsen (c), Christofte, Sivebæk; Larsen, Brian Laudrup, Jensen; Frank (Elstrup 66), Povlsen
Substitutes: Mølby, Arensøe, Krogh, Peter Nielsen, Bruun
Coach: Richard Møller Nielsen

Referee: Hubert Forstinger (Austria)