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Playing for a sweet 16 spot
Denmark coach Morten Olsen believes winning at the World Cup is like mixing a strong cocktail — you need the right ingredients, in right measures if you want to leave the other guy with a hangover.
Denmark coach Morten Olsen believes winning at the World Cup is like mixing a strong cocktail — you need the right ingredients, in right measures if you want to leave the other guy with a hangover.
Olsen offered no name for the concoction he plans serving up to Japan when they meet on Thursday in a Group E showdown but a Danish Dagger might do the trick as they try to dash Asian hopes and move onto the knockout stage.
“The cocktail is important,” explained Olsen. “At the World Cup it is always important you have some players who have been there before. But it's also vital you have young enthusiastic players who haven't.”
Denmark have never exited a WC before reaching the knockout stage. If they are to keep that record intact they must beat Japan, who also have three points and a better goal difference. “That is the first final; we hope to reach the next,” said Olsen. “That's the name of the game.”
“The Japanese team has showed fantastic character in the games they have played it's going to be a tight game for sure,” Denmark keeper Thomas Sorensen said. “It will be a different game because the Japanese will try to counterattack.”
