Danish coach plans to play to win
PORTO, Portugal -- Denmark coach Morten Olsen has rejected suggestions that neither side will play to win when the Danes meet Sweden in their final Group C match at Euro 2004 on Tuesday.
A high-scoring draw would put both sides in the quarterfinals even if Italy beat Bulgaria in the other group match, prompting speculation in the Italian press that the Nordic neighbors could conspire at the expense of the Azzurri.
Italian state broadcaster RAI even plans to use extra television cameras to ensure fair play.
"That is ridiculous," Olsen told a news conference when questioned about the prospect of his side playing for a draw.
"Who do you think we are? Do you think we are not honest and sporting? I will not speak of it. We will be playing for a result -- we will not do this in any kind of Italian way."
Olsen, whose side has beaten Bulgaria and drawn with Italy so far, said he was targeting a victory to make certain his team's place in the last eight.
"I think we have the will to beat Sweden," said Olsen.
"But it is more a question of do we have the ability to do it. Sweden have always been very well organized on the field but I think they have become more offensive and more open recently."
Chelsea winger Jesper Gronkjaer is likely to start after replacing the injured Dennis Rommedahl and scoring during Denmark's win over Bulgaria.
Swedish scout Benny Lennartsson said his side was wary of the Danes' wing pair of Gronkjaer and Martin Joergensen.
"The Danes are very dangerous coming inside with Gronkjaer and Joergensen," said Lennartsson. "We are wary of their switch play which is not typical of the Nordic countries."
Sweden, who only need to avoid defeat to advance, are still without injured right back Teddy Lucic so midfielder Mikael Nilsson will probably continue in defense with Christian Wilhelmsson remaining on the right of midfield.
Midfielder Tobias Linderoth is suspended and Kim Kallstrom, who came on against Bulgaria and Italy, is the likely replacement.
Probable teams:
Denmark: (4-3-3) 1-Thomas Sorensen; 6-Thomas Helveg, 4-Martin Laursen, 3-Rene Henriksen, 5-Niclas Jensen; 7-Thomas Gravesen, 9-Jon Dahl Tomasson, 15-Daniel Jensen; 8-Jesper Gronkjaer, 11-Ebbe Sand, 10-Martin Joergensen
Sweden: (4-4-2) 1-Andreas Isaksson; 7-Mikael Nilsson, 3-Olof Mellberg, 15-Andreas Jakobsson, 5-Erik Edman; 21-Christian Wilhelmsson, 16-Kim Kallstrom, 8-Anders Svensson, 9-Fredrik Ljungberg; 10-Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 11-Henrik Larsson
Referee: Markus Merk (Germany)
