Euro 2012: Danes ready to bounce back against Germans
Denmark's players have vowed to overcome the disappointment of losing 3-2 to Portugal in their Euro 2012 Group B match and go for the win in their final game against table-toppers Germany.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: June 14, 2012 07:22 pm IST
Denmark's players have vowed to overcome the disappointment of losing 3-2 to Portugal in their Euro 2012 Group B match and go for the win in their final game against table-toppers Germany.
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The Danes had looked to have earned a point and taken a huge step towards a place in the last eight after battling back from 2-0 down to 2-2, only for their hopes to be dashed by a stunning goal three minutes from time by substitute Silvestre Varela.
Victory lifted Portugal level with the Danes on three points while Germany have six after beating the pointless Dutch 2-1.
Coach Morten Olsen couldn't hide his disappointment and bad luck, with concerns over injuries to several key players that could make them doubts for the Germany match.
"The injuries cannot be used as an excuse but it is clear that the injury to Niki Zimling at the beginning of the match was a huge blow," said Olsen, who has been in charge since 2000.
"He (Zimling) is a really important player in our side. We have two or three injuries (veteran Dennis Rommedahl is another), so we will see who we can count on for Sunday."
Influential forward Michael Krohn-Dehli, who scored the winner against the Dutch and turned creator against Portugal, setting up Nicklas Bendtner for the first of his two goals, said they should take the positives and use them to their advantage.
"It's obvious we need a result against Germany and we're very keen to progress," said the 29-year-old. "We still have a chance so we just have to give it our best try."
Central defender Simon Kjaer, who was at fault for allowing Portugal striker Helder Postiga to get in front of him and convert Nani's pass for the second goal, said that their fate lay in their hands.
"We showed belief in what we're doing," said the 23-year-old, who is on loan at AS Roma from Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg.
"We've got to learn from this and it is still in our own hands. We cannot concede any goals against Germany. Apart from that, it is hard for me right now to say what we need to improve."
While midfielder Jakob Poulsen said they would put the loss behind them and not change anything for the German game, his namesake Simon said the victory that eluded them against Portugal would hopefully come against the Germans.
"Germany on Sunday will be a very difficult game but we have to go for victory," said the 27-year-old, who lays his club football for Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.
"That's what we did today and we didn't succeed, so let's hope we can do it against Germany. I'm optimistic."