Olsen admires Czech rivals
Friday, June 25, 2004
Article summary
Denmark coach Morten Olsen has praised the Czech Republic but said his team were not afraid of their quarter-final opponents.
Article body
Perfect record
The Czechs were the only team to qualify from the group stage with a 100 per cent record, including a 2-1 defeat of Germany secured despite having made nine changes from their previous game. However, Olsen said the Czechs' style of play should ensure an open game at the Estádio do Dragão.
Well prepared
"We got four from six points against them in the [2002 FIFA] World Cup qualifiers, where they had basically the same players as they have now - apart, of course, from Milan Baroš. We are well prepared for all their players, though, as we have had [Under-21 coach] Flemming Serritslev watching all their preliminary matches.
Attacking instincts
"They are not the worst possible team to go behind against, as they will not just stay back and defend a lead. They will, of course, try to defend their lead, but they will still want to play football - that is their nature."
Similar style
Despite his confidence, Olsen was full of praise for the Czechs who came from behind to win all three Group D matches against against Latvia, the Netherlands and Germany. He said: "The Czechs are playing wonderful technical and attacking football, based on the [AC] Sparta [Praha] school, and their way of playing resembles our own in many ways," Olsen said. "They pick footballers in the same way we do - namely players, who can and will play football. And I think that this tournament has emphasised that the teams who dare to play football, are the teams who get success.
Extra motivation
"The fact that the Czechs were not at the World Cup will undoubtedly make them more motivated to do a good job here in order to prove that they can still achieve something on the international stage. And the fact that they have won all their games here means that they will have a lot of confidence in their own skills."
Sand worry
Olsen is still hopeful Ebbe Sand will recover from his thigh muscle injury, but the striker was unsure of his chances having had to sit out training. "I will just have to take it easy and hope for the best. Right now it is difficult to put any percentage on my chances of being fit," Sand said. The other concerns are Martin Jørgensen and Dennis Rommedahl, who are following a scaled-down programme but are expected to be fit on Sunday.
