Denmark's Bendtner in race to be fit for Japan
Source: Agencies |
June 24, 2010, Thursday
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JAPAN coach Takeshi Okada is predicting a tough encounter against Denmark in the team's final World Cup group match against Japan, especially if Danish forward Nicklas Bendtner is fit to play.
Bendtner hasn't fully recovered from a lingering groin injury, but Okada is still drilling his players on how to shut down the Arsenal striker.
"I think Bendtner will be the key man in their attack," Okada said. "They will fight under his lead."
The match will determine the final team from Group E to advance to the next round. Japan needs at least a draw, while Denmark must win in order to reach the round of 16. Both teams have three points from two matches, but Japan has a better goal difference.
Denmark coach Morten Olsen views the match against Japan as a "final."
"It's a decisive game and hopefully the first final for us," he said. "We know what to do."
But Olsen acknowledges that it will be tough to beat Japan, which defended well in its first two matches. "It is difficult to score goals nowadays when you play defensive teams," Olsen said.
Okada thinks more than tactics will be needed to win the match, saying he wants Japan "to fight." "It would be ideal if we can overwhelm the opposition by 10 goals," Okada said. "But it won't be that easy. I think it's going to be a very close, fierce match."
Japan reached the round of 16 as co-hosts at the 2002 World Cup.
Bendtner hasn't fully recovered from a lingering groin injury, but Okada is still drilling his players on how to shut down the Arsenal striker.
"I think Bendtner will be the key man in their attack," Okada said. "They will fight under his lead."
The match will determine the final team from Group E to advance to the next round. Japan needs at least a draw, while Denmark must win in order to reach the round of 16. Both teams have three points from two matches, but Japan has a better goal difference.
Denmark coach Morten Olsen views the match against Japan as a "final."
"It's a decisive game and hopefully the first final for us," he said. "We know what to do."
But Olsen acknowledges that it will be tough to beat Japan, which defended well in its first two matches. "It is difficult to score goals nowadays when you play defensive teams," Olsen said.
Okada thinks more than tactics will be needed to win the match, saying he wants Japan "to fight." "It would be ideal if we can overwhelm the opposition by 10 goals," Okada said. "But it won't be that easy. I think it's going to be a very close, fierce match."
Japan reached the round of 16 as co-hosts at the 2002 World Cup.
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