COPENHAGEN, May 29 (Reuters) - Denmark's role in the European Championship Finals is that of disrespectful underdogs, head coach Bo Johansson said on Monday.

'We are outsiders and underdogs. But we don't have any exaggerated respect for our opponents although we of course respect them as strong soccer nations,' Johansson told a news conference after naming his 22-man Euro 2000 squad.

'The biggest are not always the best,' Johansson said, drawing a parallel with surprise 1999/2000 Danish champions Herfoelge, a club without expensive stars from a town of 5,000 people south of Copenhagen.

Denmark were also underdogs in 1992, slipping into the European Championship finals through the back door to replace Yugoslavia due to war in the Balkans - and went on to win the title.

Denmark are drawn in Group D with reigning World Champions France, co-hosts the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. 'They think, definitely, that they are better than we are. We don't necessarily think so.

'We have always thought that we can win any match and we will go on believing that in this tournament as well,' Johansson said.

France and the Netherlands were nevertheless certainly among the favourites to win the title, he said, noting that Belgium were enjoying a god run ahead of their warm-up friendly against Denmark in Copenhagen on June 3. Spain, too, looked strong and England had the potential to surprise, he said.

Denmark have lost their two initial warm-up friendlies this year against Portugal and Sweden.

Johansson's side is a proven mixture of solid veterans - Sporting Lisbon goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, 36, left-wing defender Jan Heintze, 36, of PSV Eindhoven, central defender Rene Henriksen, 30, of Panathinaikos, and Hamburg midfielder Stig Toefting, 30 - and younger talents such as midfielders Thomas Gravesen, 24, of Hamburg, Ajax midfielder-striker Jesper Groenkjaer, 22, and striker Jon Dahl Tomasson, 23, of Feyenoord.

The only new name in the Danish squad is Morten Bisgaard, Udinese. After a long spell on the bench Bisgaard, 25, has had plenty of time on the field in Italy's Serie A this year and Johansson said he and assistant coach Flemming Serritslev had both been impressed by Bisgaard's play.

Named for Denmark as a midfielder/forward, Bisgaard had demonstrated solid dribbling skills, an ability to play on both the left and the right wing as well as central striker although he had also been used by Udinese as defender.

'Morten is a very flexible player. He has displayed just the versatility I am looking for in a player,' Johansson said.