Exit stage left Michael Laudrup, enter Martin Jorgensen -- the new prince of Danish football.
Laudrup takes his final bow on the international stage at the end of France'98, but waiting in the wings is a perfect understudy who has already started to earn rave reviews.
Udinese midfielder Jorgensen is a naturally left-sided player like his boyhood idol Laudrup but has shown his versatility by slotting in on the right.
The 22-year-old, who played for Denmark's under-21s a record 34 times, has long been earmarked as a star of the future but he was not expected to make the starting lin-up in France.
but his precocious, allaround abilities persuaded Denmark's Swedish coach bo Johansson to gamble with him on the right -- and it has paid off.
"It is wonderful for Danish football that there is a player like Martin coming through just as Michael retires," says Johansson.
"The great thing about Martin is his versatility. Michael Laudrup is one of the greatest footballers of his generation, but I think Martin's all-around game is even better.
"Since he has played for Denmark, Martin has always played on the right, but he's an even better player on the left from where he loves to cut inside from the wing and run at defenders.
"It is certainly fair to say that we see him as Michael's natural replacement.
"There are a lot of similarities between the two of them. They are both are naturally left-sided players blessed with a lot of skill who like to attack."
It has been a remarkable season for Jorgensen, who left the homely Danish club Aarhus for Udinese and the bright lights Serie A where he suffered a miserable first few months.
He was unable to get a place on the substitutes' bench let alone in the team before a rash of injuries gave him his chance to impress the Italian side as well as enhance his World Cup claims.
"I expected to play about 5 mins or so as substitute, but I'vw now started in 4 games in a row," says Jorgensen. "It's been an incredible experience for me and I think I have acquitted myself despite position.
Jorgensen now faces the toughest challenge of his carrer in Nantes on Friday when he comes up against brazil -- and Roberto Carlos on the left flank.
"Roberto Carlos was not so attacking in the first couple of matches but against Chile you saw how dangerous he was coming forward," says Jorgensen.
"But on a positive note it means that every time he comes forward there will be space for me to attack."
And Jorgensen, who worked for his father's coach company while he was a semi-professional with Aarhus, insists Denmark will not be overawed by the world champions.
He added,"We can play freely now that we have proved to everyone that we can play brilliant football. Out performance against Nigeria lifts a great burden off out shoulders.
"Aganist Brazil we will just try and play our natural game, which is to attack."
Denmark's central defender Marc Rieper who, like Jorgensen, started his career at Aarhus, believes the yound midfielder has the talent and the temperament to become a major star.
"Michael and Brian Laudrup are exceptionally talented players but Martin Jorgensen is about as close as you can get to them in terms of potential and playing style,"says Rieper.
"He is quick and he has a good shot and great awareness of play around him. He loves coming forward and is always trying to make something happen.
"He is just 22 but he is really coming of age as a player for France'98."