As Roy Hodgson’s England prepare to face Denmark on Wednesday a lot of ‘happy memories’ have been flooding back for Darren Anderton.
The former Portsmouth, Tottenham Hotspur, Birmingham City, Wolves and Bournemouth winger made his international debut against the Danes at Wembley in 1994 as a David Platt goal secured victory for the Three Lions.
Ahead of the match next week Anderton reminisced with TheFA.com. He said: “I’d been doing well for 18 months. It was Terry Venables’ first game and there was a real feel-good factor around the country.
England v Denmark
International Match
8pm,Wednesday 5 March
Wembley Stadium
“A lot of people were talking about me getting a call-up and I’d been playing really well. Terry had taken me to Spurs and I knew he liked me as a player. Once I received the call I was on the phone to everyone to let them now.
“I didn’t really expect to start but he put me straight into the team.”
Anderton continued: “I had a few doubts beforehand. It was a full-house at Wembley and they were a big test for us.
“Denmark came as the reigning European Champions so it was a great challenge for the team and for me. We won the game one-nil and it was one of the biggest games of my career.
“I’ll never forget that feeling after the game – ‘I’ve done it’. It was a dream come true.”
The Denmark team that evening contained the likes of Peter Schmeichel, John Jensen and the Laudrup brothers Michael and Brian. But one Dane in the current set-up has caught Anderton’s eye and he says England must be wary of the threat posed.
“Christian Eriksen has been great this season. I think he is a very, very good player and just the type that Tottenham fans will love.
Christian Eriksen in action for Tottenham
“I’ve been really impressed and England will have to be on their guard against him. He’ll be a big player for many years to come and he’ll want to put on a show at Wembley.”
After naming a 30-man squad for the game, the fixture will be key for Roy Hodgson as he prepares for this summer’s World Cup, a tournament Anderton believes England can do well in.
He added: “It will be really difficult. Countries around the world are getting better, and we have struggled at tournaments a bit recently.
“It is a tough group, but I think if we can get out of the group it is then a straight knock-out competition, and anything can happen then.
“It will be hard but the team need to continue and improve on recent performances but you never know where a run of form can take you and we are capable of producing that.”
Tickets are available for England v Denmark at Wembley on Wednesday 5 March, kick-off 8pm. Click here to buy yours.
