He looked like a boy next to the rugged England back-four of Phil Neal, Terry Butcher, Russell Osman and Kenny Sansom.

But after scoring one outstanding solo effort and winning a penalty in a 2-2 draw, it became obvious something was stirring in Danish football.

A year later Denmark beat England 1-0 at Wembley with Olsen alongside household names including today's Danish coach Morten Olsen, Preben Elkjaer and the goalscorer that day, Allan Simonsen.

"It was the start of everything. We qualified for the 1984 European Championships and this summer in Portugal we will play in our sixth consecutive European finals," says Jesper.

"It was a special team. For the first time, Denmark had top players in different countries and we had people like Morten Olsen with a lot of experience to hand round to other players.

"We thought we could beat England at Wembley but the way we did it was superb. Allan scored am early penalty and they really only had one chance to equalise very late on through Paul Mariner.

The victory sparked a golden era for Danish football with the side inspired by Michael Laudrup reaching the 1986 World Cup Finals where they memorably beat Uruguay 6-1.

"It was the result in England that gave us the confidence to compete with the best," says Jesper.

"I was playing for Ajax at the time and flew back to Holland after the game. It became obvious that the win had made the world sit up and take notice."

Jesper wasn't in the Dutch League much longer. At the end of the 1983/84 season his quick feet persuaded Ron Atkinson to take him to Old Trafford where he won the FA Cup in his first season.

After that the Dane was inconsistent - scoring some great goals but going missing in other games.

"It was good and bad," admits Jesper, who was capped 45 times by his country. "The league definitely was more physical than it is now and that didn't help someone of my stature.

"It was unusual for a European player to play in matches that were so quick and with so many high balls. But I learned a lot as well, things I put into good effect when I went to play in France after Old Trafford.

"I definitely think today's Premiership would be more suited to my game. Foreign coaches have brought in a different kind of style. Damien Duff is someone who is a similar type of player to how I was but all the players are a lot fitter nowadays as well."

Jesper's international career was blighted by an errant pass in the 1986 World Cup against Spain which saw Denmark eventually lose a 1-0 and eventually the match 5-1.

The mistake got as much publicity in Denmark as Gareth Southgate's penalty miss did after Euro 96 and the player admits: "It took me a few years to fully get over it. You make a mistake like that once in a lifetime - and mine happened to be in a World Cup knockout match! But I got over it eventually and learned from the experience."

And how well he has learned! Jesper has been an unqualified success since retiring in 1994 and joining a fledgling sports agency called ProActive along with his former United team-mate Kevin Moran.

ProActive now look after the likes of Wayne Rooney and Andy Cole and the company has given Jesper a life-changing experience as well.

Three months ago, he and his family moved to Melbourne to start the Australian end of the business - where he nurtures talented young Australian players and is also involved in local football schools.

The time difference means he won't be able to see the match live but believes Denmark will be tough opposition with his old mate and namesake Morten in charge.

"Morten is one of those guys everyone respects instantly," he explains.

"He always wanted to go into management after playing and having been with the national team for 12 years I think it was inevitable he would end up being our manager. He is totally professional in everything he does.

"The guys will love playing at Old Trafford. I saw my last match there against Real Madrid and it finished 4-3. But I can't see as many goals on Sunday, my prediction is 1-1."

Jesper was talking to Joe Bernstein