Denmark v. Portugal

Last night I met up in Copenhagen with a Danish family that I know to go to the Denmark v. Portugal World Cup Qualifying Match at Parken Stadium. Train ride over went nice and then the weather went bad! It was raining, cold, and very windy in Copenhagen. We had plans to go to a restaurant but everything in town was packed so we hit up this chicken sandwich join that was actually pretty good. I got a pesto-flavored chicken sandwich and warm mashed up potatoes. From here we headed over to the stadium for the game beginning at 8PM. We stopped by the gift store first and I got a couple scarves that say "Danmark" on them =]

The atmosphere and intensity was at a HIGH! Fans outside we're going nuts. At one point the team bus with the players drove by us and people just erupted. The Danes (and I'm sure all other country's fans) take their football seriously! Once we got inside we found our seats which were pretty good ones. The National Anthem was definitely a big site of nationalism. People we're singing it everywhere while waving Danish flags in the air. The first half had a LOT of incredible saves by the Danish goalie, who was supposedly their 2nd backup behind their starter, but for various reasons the starter and first back up couldn't play. Turns out 62% of the fans or so thought he was the player of the game in the end. The Danes scored with about 5 minutes left in the first half...the fans went pretty crazy. The second half remained 1-0 Denmark until about 6 minutes left, when Portugal scored...it ended in a 1-1 draw. I'm definitely not used to seeing sporting games ending in a tie...but it was a very fun and eventful night nonetheless.

I took a few pictures of this Cristiano Ronaldo player (#7) who plays for Portugal and is among the few top players in the world...

Coming back from the game was just disastrous. I tried buying a ticket in Copenhagen but the only machine that would let me buy a ticket for Lund wouldn't accept my card and would only take coins, which I didn't have. All the shops and booths were closed and the family I was with had left. I had a Eurail Pass but really did not want to waste a whole day for such a short trip. I got on the train anyways, told the guy I had tried buying one and that I didn't want to waste my pass, so he said he'd come back to me but he never did =] I ended up getting to Malmo for free and bought a short train ticket back to Lund. 3 + hours after the game ended I was finally back in my room!

All the "Danmark" memorabilia in the gift shop!


Danmark v. Portugal!


Parken Stadium in Copenhagen.


The teams taking the field!

All the crazy Portuguese fans.


Danmark and Portugal lining up before the game for the National Anthems.


The crowd went crazzzzyyyy after Danmark scored!


Ronaldo (#7) getting a free kick.


Danmark celebrating after the 1-1 draw. Portugal had really needed this game. Their chances or slim (or 0, I'm not sure). Danmark is leading their group.


RONALDO!

Ronaldo walking off the field after the game.