SUMMER OF 92/ SOMMEREN ‘92

Denmark, 2015, 93 minutes, Colour.
Ulrich Thomsen.
Directed by Kasper Barfoed.


This is a film especially for Danish audiences, a morale boosting film, memories of the Danish soccer team in the 1980s and then into the 1990s, few hopes of success and yet their winning the championship.

Plenty of football coaching, football action, morale boosting?

Ulrich Thomsen plays the coach, not a popular man, initially rejected as being coach because a foreigner was needed. However, he does get the job, but, as his assistant tells him, he is a good coach and skilful but not a good leader. He has to learn to work with the men, who give public interviews dissatisfied with him. Letting them relax together, building up a spirit enables them to survive, especially when Yugoslavia is eliminated because of political reasons from the championship.

It is not an easy win but, ultimately, Denmark wins – and offers memories for Danish morale.

1. A film for Danish audiences? European audiences? Worldwide? The soccer fans?

2. The historical basis, European soccer in the 1980s and 1990s? Championships? The place of Denmark? The role of the coach? The players?

3. The daily settings, the 1980s and 1990s, homes, football pitches, club rooms?

4. The scenes of the training, the matches, tactics, goalscoring?

5. The Danish team, the foreign coach, is finishing, the discussions about replacement? Wanting a foreigner? For morale boosting?

6. Richard, his background, working with the team, the chores? His hopes, his notes, reviewing all the players on video? The audition? His being rejected? His reaction, his wife? His remodelling the kitchen?

7. The foreign coach not being available? The selection? Richard being chosen? The board manager, disliking Richard, his resignation?

8. The reaction of the players, not favouring Richard? Lack of morale? The training, his sternness? Not being able to mould them into a team? Defeats? Their being eliminated from the European cup?

9. Yugoslavia, the change of politics, the elimination of the team? Denmark substituted? The few players available, short time for training? Play? Draws?

10. Players leaving, giving unfavourable interviews? The player with the daughter with cancer?

11. The assistant coach, older and wiser, advising Richard, that he was a good coach but a poor leader? Allowing the players the minigolf, then fraternising, building up a spirit? The issue of
their wives and girlfriends? The response?

12. The return of the player with the cancer daughter? Her encouragement? The return of the star player? Richard giving him advice?

13. The progress of the matches, defeating the Netherlands, the ultimate defeating of Germany? Winning the championship?

14. The aftermath, Richard nominated as best world coach, the best players?

15. And Danish nationalism?