Sweden alive to Danish threat

Sweden's scout has painted a daunting picture of Denmark ahead of the final Group C game.

Close watch
Benny Lennartsson has been following Denmark since the end of their UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying campaign and has watched both of their games in Portugal. He believes that Lars Lagerbäck and Tommy Söderberg's team face a tough task if they are to earn the draw against the Danes that will put them in the last eight.

Good planning
"In my view Denmark are the best team in the group," said Lennartsson. "Morten Olsen has planned everything in detail and I'm sure he's also got a few tricks up his sleeve that he'll use against us." Sweden need only avoid defeat in Porto to book a quarter-final place. A draw of 2-2 or higher against the Danes, meanwhile, would see both Scandinavian teams reach the quarter-finals, whatever Italy's result against Bulgaria.

Continental style
However, getting even a point from the Danes could prove difficult. "[Denmark] have got a very un-Nordic way of playing, and like to pass the ball around a lot, but they've surprised me in this tournament, as they have now alternated with playing long balls to Ebbe Sand. I think Jesper Grønkjær and Martin Jørgensen are the best wingers in the tournament. It's going to be very tough to beat them."

Linderoth suspended
If Sweden are to beat the Danes, they will have to do so without Tobias Linderoth who picked up a one-match suspension after receiving his second yellow card of the tournament in Friday's 1-1 draw with Italy. However, Söderberg believes the Swedes can manage without the Everton FC player. "We've got a lot of players who have shown that they want to play and we have a number of possibilities with regards to our starting lineup," he said.

Midfield cover
The likelihood is that either Petter Hansson or Johan Mjällby will be called in as cover, although another possibility would see Brøndby IF defender Andreas Jakobsson play the anchoring role. "If they want me to play in midfield I have no problems with that since I've already played there a number of times," he said.

Flourishing
There will be no change up front where Henrik Larsson's partnership with Zlatan Ibrahimovic is flourishing. "He's a fantastic player," Larsson said of the AFC Ajax forward. "We're still getting to know each other on the pitch and with each training session it's improving. You haven't seen the best of us yet."

Happy times
Larsson, who came out of international retirement for EURO 2004™, added: "It's great fun to be back. I've missed the dressing-room banter and speaking Swedish. I don't know where I'll play next season, but if it's for a top club, I would like to continue to play for Sweden, should the coaches want that."