Morten Rasmussen (footballer Born January 1985) - International Career

International Career

Rasmussen made his international debut with the Danish under-16 national team in 2001, scoring three goals in three under-16 national team games. He represented Denmark at the 2002 European Under-17 Championship, scoring six goals in four games, including five goals in 20 minutes in the 6–0 win against the Finland under-17s. Having scored 17 goals in 19 matches for the under-17 national team, he moved into the under-19 national team in September 2002, still aged 17. Following six goals in 11 matches for the under-19 team, he was awarded 2003 Danish under-19 Player of the Year. On 3 September 2004, aged 19, Rasmussen got his debut for the Denmark under-21 national team. He scored eight goals in 13 games to help Denmark qualify for the 2006 European Under-21 Championship. However, at the main tournament, Rasmussen had to relinquish his place in the starting line-up to Nicklas Bendtner, though he played as a substitute in all three Denmark games. In total, Rasmussen scored nine goals in 21 games for the under-21 team.

Rasmussen made his debut for the senior Danish national team on 11 October 2008, as he played the last 13 minutes of the 3–0 win against Malta in the 2010 World Cup qualification. In January 2009, he was a part of the unofficial Denmark League XI national football team which won the 2009 King's Cup invitational tournament, under the management of Danish national coach Morten Olsen. He played a further two senior international friendly games in November 2009. In January 2010, he once again joined the League XI team for the 2010 King's Cup. Rasmussen scored for the Danish side in their first game, a 3–1 win over Poland, as his team went on to defend their title.

On 10 May 2010, Rasmussen was included in Olsen's preliminary 30-man squad for the 2010 World Cup. After first-choice striker Nicklas Bendtner picked up an injury, Rasmussen was called up for the Danish squad on 21 May to act as cover, but was eventually left out of the final 23-man squad on 28 May.

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