England played a series of Wembley friendlies after clinching qualification for Italia ’90 and the fifth visitors, less than a month before the opening World Cup fixture in Cagliari, were Denmark.
Peter Shilton and Des Walker were outstanding in a first half in which the Danes, prompted by Brian and Michael Laudrup, attacked in waves. It seemed to be only a matter of time before they found the net but somehow England managed to keep them out.
England’s striking partnership of Gary Lineker and John Barnes wasn’t really firing and Peter Schmeichel, then with Danish club Brondby, had little to occupy him.
But the home side improved after the break, looking more lively after some substitutions, and there was a goal to cheer on 54 minutes.
Steve Hodge provided the cross and Lineker blasted the ball against the underside of the bar and over the line.
Only Bobby Charlton and Jimmy Greaves had now scored more goals for England.
The Danes were still dangerous and Chris Woods, substituting for Shilton, had to make two brave saves to preserve England’s lead.
They had now gone an incredible 17 matches without defeat, a run that started after the Euro ’88 Finals in West Germany and one that unfortunately ended in the next friendly against Uruguay.
