Olsen considered resigning after that setback four years ago, but was convinced to stay and will take Denmark into this summer’s competition. The Danes defeated group favorites Portugal twice in order to qualify, after failing to reach the 2006 Finals in Germany.
Demark will be up against Holland group favorites, and Cameroon who Olsen has already warned his side about.
“Cameroon have a number of superb players with a lot of individual class,” Olsen claimed. “They were a bit disappointing at the African Cup of Nations, but I am sure they will play differently at the World Cup.”
Olsen has named a provisional squad of 26, however this includes injured goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen. The experienced Stoke City player has been his country’s number-one for nine years now, but a dislocated elbow sustained against Chelsea towards the end of the season has threatened his participation.
Per Kroldrup of Fiorentina and Simon Kjaer of Palermo will be in the Danish defence, alongside Liverpool’s Daniel Agger. Other key players if Denmark are to have a successful competiton will be Christian Poulsen of Juventus, former Milan forward Jon-Dahl Tomasson, and Arsenal’s Nicklas Bendtner. Denmark will kick off their World Cup on June 14 against Holland, and will be looking to improve on their quart-final elimination at France ’98.
Denmark's provisional FIFA World Cup squad:
Jesper Christiansen (FC Copenhagen), Kim Christensen (IFK Gothenburg), Stephan Andersen (Brondby), Thomas Sorensen (Stoke City); Daniel Agger (Liverpool), Lars Jacobsen (Blackburn), Patrick Mtiliga (Malaga), Per Kroldrup (Fiorentina), Simon Busk Poulsen (AZ Alkmaar), Simon Kjaer (Palermo), William Kvist (FC Copenhagen); Christian Poulsen (Juventus), Christian Eriksen (Ajax), Daniel Jensen (Werder Bremen), Jakob Poulsen (AGF Aarhus), Michael Silberbauer (FC Utrecht), Mikkel Beckmann (Randers), Thomas Enevoldsen (FC Groningen), Thomas Kahlenberg (Wolfsburg), Dennis Rommedahl (Ajax), Jesper Gronkjaer (FC Copenhagen), Jon Dahl Tomasson (Feyenoord), Martin Jorgensen (AGF Aarhus); Michael Krohn-Dehli (Brondby), Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal), Soren Larsen (Duisberg). Standby: Anders Moller Christensen (Odense), Leon Jessen (FC Midtjylland), Mikkel Thygesen (FC Midtjylland), Morten Rasmussen (Celtic) (Duisburg).
Guest writer/James Dielhenn Tweet this!
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