Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner has no concerns about his fitness ahead of the start of the World Cup finals.
Coach Olsen left with plenty to ponder ahead of Dutch opener
Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner has no concerns about his fitness ahead of the start of the World Cup finals.
Bendtner has been struggling with a groin injury that has hampered his preparations for the Danes' Group E campaign, which gets under way against the Netherlands on 14 June.
The Arsenal man has been forced to train alone as he attempts to regain fitness in time for the curtain raiser, however the 22-year-old believes he should be fit enough to feature in the match in Johannesburg.
Bendtner told
www.dr.dk: "I've been training hard with the physical trainer and I'm one of those with the best heart rate in the squad and the football side of things shouldn't be any problem."
Decision
Coach Morten Olsen also has doubts over the fitness of defender Simon Kjaer, who is struggling with a knee problem.
Kjaer picked up the knock in a friendly against Senegal at the end of May and is doubtful for the Holland clash.
The 21-year-old revealed he would rather avoid taking pain-killing injections to take part in the game but would leave any decision to the Danish medical staff.
"We're not there yet and I'd rather not but that's a decision I'll let the doctors take," Kjaer told Danish newspaper
Politiken.
Olsen has yet to decide whether he will gamble on the fitness of the duo for the first game, with tests against Cameroon and Japan to follow.
Culture shock
Captain Jon Dahl Tomasson gives his manager a further selection headache as he struggles with a groin problem, while keeper Thomas Soresnen is still recovering from the dislocated elbow he sustained playing for Stoke in April
Olsen said in
Jyllands-Posten: "We must decide whether to risk them (Bendtner and Kjaer) in the first game. Should we bet everything? We have come a long way with them but the question is whether it is far enough."
Denmark have been training in South Africa in an attempt to adapt to the altitude and the problematic 'Jabulani' World Cup ball and midfielder Martin Jorgensen says their preparations will give them an advantage over the Dutch ahead of their encounter.
He told Danish radio: "Holland haven't played here yet, so they may get something of a culture shock - unless of course they are so good technically that they don't need to hit a long ball."
