Kuala Lumpur, May 8: Denmark, the only European nation who could spoil the Asian monopoly in the Thomas Cup since its inception in 1948, have reached the Thomas Cup final six times but ended up the second best on all six occasions.

The main reason is that the Danes are noted to be very individualistic, though they have quality players in singles and doubles.

Denmark's current No. 1 and world champion Pater Gade-Christensen, who will be leading the country's singles charge, did not deny this setback but said: "Yes, this was Denmark in the past. The whole scenario changed some three Thomas Cups ago."

Gade-Christensen said this year's team which will begin their quest for the Cup on May 11, is totally different.

He said the team is united, closely knit and are all on the same wavelength.

"This year's team is great. We are all in harmony. We are doing things for each other and we know that being individualistic is not part of a team package," said the blonde-haired Dane.

Gade-Christensen himself leads by example by interacting with his teammates well. He kicks around a football with his mates and talks a lot about badminton.

An ardent fan of Liverpool and a footballer himself, Gade-Christensen knows that it is impossible to win the Thomas Cup if the players are individualistic.

"We learnt our lesson. Things changed about six years ago and we felt that we must join hands to stay together," said the lanky 23-year-old shuttler.

He said Denmark in the past had very good players in Erland Kops, Finn Kobbero, the late Svend Pri, Flemings Delfs and Morten Frost Hansen.

"They have always participated with a strong team but somehow they end up losing in the six finals they have played," Gade-Christensen said.

Gade-Christensen however, said he hopes to change it all this year.

"Denmark is capable of beating any team here for the Thomas Cup. If we reach the final, we hope to win it to show that Danish players are united and not individualistic as many people think," he said, adding that he rates Indonesia as the strong favourites to win the Cup with Malaysia being the next-most dangerous team.