- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Denmark arrive for the World Cup
- Date: 30th May 2010
- Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (MAY 29, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PLANE CARRYING DANISH TEAM ARRIVING AT JOHANNESBURG'S INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (2 SHOTS) SECURITY GUARDS RUNNING AROUND PLANE TO SECURE LOCATION MORE OF SECURITY GUARDS DANISH COACH MORTEN OLSEN ARRIVING MEMBERS OF DANISH TEAM ARRIVING OLSEN WALKING TOWARDS TERMINAL BUILDING PLAYERS ARRIVING (SOUNDBITE) (English) DENMARK NATIONAL COACH MORTEN OLSEN, SAYING: "We have a long journey, first from Copenhagen to Switzerland, then two and a half hours, but it's the same situation for all European teams. So we have time now to adapt to the climate and the height and so on." DANISH STRIKER JESPER GRONKJAER ARRIVING (SOUNDBITE) (English) DENMARK NATIONAL COACH MORTEN OLSEN, SAYING: "The teams are trying to get over that first step, in the first three games, that's always the ambition." MORE OF PLAYERS ARRIVING DEFENDER PER KROLDRUP (CENTRE) FOLLOWED BY STRIKER SOREN LARSEN ARRIVING
- Embargoed: 14th June 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: South Africa
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVACIBJ3PTEAB7IVNNLCPY1UCJNF
- Story Text: Denmark arrived in South Africa on Saturday (May 29) hoping they can ride high on form at the World Cup which is now less than two weeks away.
The Danish side lacks big name players but surprised many when they topped a European qualification group that included the likes of Portugal and Sweden.
The side is coached by Morten Olsen, a man who captained the side at their first World Cup appearance in 1986 and coached them in 2002.
They will be relying on a blend of youth and experience and will hope Arsenal youngster Nicklas Bendtner will continue his club form at the World Cup.
Olsen said the team needed time to adjust to the conditions in South Africa.
"We have a long journey, first from Copenhagen to Switzerland, then two and a half hours, but it's the same situation for all the European teams. So we have time now to adapt to the climate and the height and so on," he said.
Denmark are in Group E with their first match coming against a strong Netherlands side on June 14 at Johannesburg's Soccer City stadium.
They are most likely to be fighting for the second spot in the group with Cameroon, but Japan are also capable of pulling off upsets.
"The teams are trying to get over that first step, in the first three games, that's always the ambition."
The runner up in the group will likely face the current world champions Italy in the last 16.
In 1992, Denmark failed to qualify for the European Championships but ended up winning the title against all odds after they replaced a troubled Yugoslavia team at the last minute and shocked established sides on the way to victory.
In the 1998 World Cup, they tore apart a strong Nigerian side in the last 16 with a 4-1 win before bowing out at the quarter finals against Brazil with a narrow 3-2 defeat. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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