Denmark's national team has not been on the winning stand since 2004. This season they luckily reached the offline finals for another chance to repeat the bronze deed four years ago.
Denmark winning the bronze in 2004. Never to be achieved again?
Photo by: ESLDenmark had a wobbly run in the regular season. First match: A complete run-over by Germany. Second match: A convincing 5-0 victory over Bulgaria. Third and fourth match were both close matches in which they ended up losing 2-3.
If only 4-1 would have been 5-0...
Fifth and last match, against Netherlands, had much at stake. Denmark was in need of three more points than France would gain against Ukraine to enter the relegation. The matches were played simultaneously, and things seemed to be going Denmark's way, despite the almost impossible quest. Netherlands having two top Orc players in the form of Rotterdam and Grubby did not make it easier. But Ciara and his team mates almost pulled it off. A 4-0 victory for Denmark and a 2-3 loss for France meant that Denmark only needed to win the postponed match to advance to the relegation matches.
Grubby put out the hopes of Denmark
The match was postponed for a week and a half. When the match finally was played, Grubby could put out the hopes of a relegation match for the Danes, defeating Rholle with a 2-0 score. This resulted in a controversy, initiated by the losing Danes. Earlier during the season, one of the Danish players was not allowed to postpone his game, while Netherlands could do it in this important match. Accusations of favoritism by the ESL administration was vented by the Danish players. Instead, France was given the relegation spot and played Russia (and lost).
Russia's loss is Denmark's gain
But luckily, the Russian players continued to have troubles getting visas to enter Germany, and a spot for the offline final lay open. Denmark was invited as a substitute, and could send their team to Leipzig.
Ciara scored the only win against Germany. Here at ESWC 2007.
Photo by: Games-Services.com
Germany too strong
Denmark fell short in their first offline match. Germany, strengthened by playing on homefield and having players in good shape for the upcoming ESL Pro Series, was too strong for Denmark. Ciara's comeback in the game against HATE-LOVE-ANGER was impressive, but the rest of the Danish players took a tough beating.
Lower bracket against Sweden
Second match, make it or break it. The opposing team, Sweden, had a crippled lineup, with neither FuRy nor DowaQ. Not to mention the lack of Sweden's only full-time progamer SaSe, who has numerous disputes with the rest of the Swedish national players and is not even on the roster. This was Denmark's chance of grabbing a top 3 position.
The team game was played first, which resulted in a close 2-1 score for Sweden's duo LiiLD.C and KnOfF. It seemed like it would be another tough loss for Denmark after the second match, as KnOfF barely came out on top over Ciara with 2-1, KnOfF turning the game around after 0-1.
ThomasG defeated EfFeCt in the Loser Bracket Semi Final.
Photo by: readmore.de
ThomasG and Rosenkill defeated Swedish newcomers
But then, hopes were once again lit. ThomasG took down the Swedish team's newcomer EfFeCt, while Rosenkill did the same to the second newcomer, Thorzain. It was now up to MyWa to decide Denmark's future in the European Nations Cup. But MyWa's opposer LiiLD.C was the better player and could, just as Grubby did six weeks ago, turn out the lights for Denmark.
Was this Denmark's last chance? Will ESL replace WarCraft 3 with World of WarCraft in the next season of European Nations Cup, as they did in the Extreme Masters? If they decide to keep WarCraft 3, can Denmark advance again? If Ciara can can his current shape and the other Danish players kick it up a notch - probably. If not, the bronze in 2004 will remain as Denmark's only medal.
