Danes shoot seven past Swiss

By Peter Bruun

Denmark 7-2 Switzerland
Peter Bonde's Denmark sounded a note of intent ahead of UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2005™ as they kept up their perfect record in six fixtures against Switzerland with an emphatic friendly win in the first international ever held in the small Central Jutland town Vildbjerg.

Ørntoft promoted
Bonde, whose first match as head coach a fortnight ago was a 1-0 defeat in Italy, had originally not nominated any debutants for this match, but an ankle injury suffered by captain Katrin Pedersen meant a chance for uncapped Skovlunde IF defender Christine Ørntoft.

First-half goals
However, the change did not seem to weaken an experienced Danish side, who soon took total control after leading scorer Merete Pedersen made it 1-0 after 28 minutes, benefitting from terrific work by Dorte Dalum on the left. Eight minutes later Helle Nielsen doubled the lead, as she hammered the ball into the net after a corner.

Continued dominance
The Danes continued to dominate matters after the break, and after 51 minutes Anne Dot Eggers made it 3-0 from the spot following a foul on Pedersen. Only two minutes later Cathrine Sørensen increased the lead further, but almost instantly Sylvie Gaillard pulled one back with virtually the first Swiss chance of the game.

Johansen hat-trick
That did not knock Denmark off their stride, though, and the following 13 minutes saw 18-year-old IK Skovbakken player Nanna Johansen complete a hat-trick. Gaillard claimed her second goal of the night with a spectacular shot from 30 metres in the last minute, but Switzerland, who finished fourth in their qualifying group, were well beaten as they contemplate a return to competitive action later this year in a FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying group containing holders Germany as well as Russia, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.

Swedish rehearsal
Denmark's squad for England is announced on Monday, but two days before that potential candidates have a last chance to impress in their last friendly before the tournament, as they travel to Växjö to meet Sweden - who will also be their first Group A opponents in the opening game of the finals in Blackpool on 5 June.