Denmark's first major competition came in the 1964 European Championships which saw them reach the semi-finals losing out to USSR. Denmark's first World Cup came in 1984 with the attacking duo of Michael Laudrup and Preben Elkjær, losing in the second round to Spain.

Denmark's greatest achievement came in 1992 European Championship when they initially failed to qualify losing out to Yugoslavia in the group stage. Due to the Yugoslav wars Yugoslavia were thrown out of the competition making way for Denmark.