Euro 2012: Denmark put faith in Nicklas Bendtner against Holland

Netherlands vs. Denmark

Euro 2012 - 11 months ago

Euro 2012: Denmark put faith in Nicklas Bendtner against Holland

• Coach Morten Olsen puts his faith in Arsenal player
• Lack of options means striker must be at his best

by Paul Wilson in Kharkiv 11 months ago

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Morten Olsen is clutching at the straw that is Nicklas Bendtner as he takes Denmark into another tournament opener against Holland.

While the Arsenal forward was not at his best in the World Cup two years ago, when Denmark lost by two goals to Saturday's opponents, the Danish coach believes he will be a different proposition this time round.

"Two years ago Nicklas was injured, but now he is in completely better shape and you can see it in the way he plays," Olsen said. "He is much stronger and I think he will provide the attacking spearhead we need."

So the Danes must hope. It has been rather cruelly suggested that the only reason Olsen plays Bendtner on his own up front is because he cannot find anyone else even half as good.

Olsen is under no illusions about the size of Denmark's task. Ever since the draw was made they have been depicted as the likely whipping boys of the tournament's group of death, and the coach is not about to disagree.

"All we can do is try to be ourselves, concentrate on doing what we do well. But we are stuck with the fact that we have three great opponents in the same group," Olsen said. "We are going to have it hard right from the start because we know exactly what Holland can do.

"We are up against a better team and I don't mind admitting it, but that doesn't mean we will throw in the towel. We have big expectations for ourselves too. Perhaps we will need more luck than all the others, but if we have one day where we get everything right we have a chance of upsetting all the predictions.

"We have to have belief in ourselves. Maybe we are not as strong as the Dutch are, but we have to demonstrate confidence of our own. Otherwise we are going to find it difficult in the other games against opponents of the class that we have drawn."