Group A ready for final flourish

Danes have edge
Portugal have already won the group with a maximum six points from their opening two games while the Austrians and Danes are locked together on three points each with both sides having lost against Portugal and beaten Hungary. However Denmark have the advantage of a superior goal difference and therefore know that a draw will be enough to progress to a likely semi-final against Spain.

'We stand close together'
The Nelas showdown is certain to be extremely tight. Both sides have impressed in the tournament so far, the Danes with a high-tempo, attacking game and the Austrians with a more patient and formidably well-organised team ethic. "We stand close together and harmonise well," said Austria coach Ernst Weber. "That is the strongest part of our game."

Selection dilemmas
Both sides face selection dilemmas. Denmark have perhaps the youngest squad in the tournament, with eight players young enough to also be available for next season's tournament. However the downside is that coach Hans Brun Larsen is concerned about his players' ability to last the distance in this year's event.

No training
"Our team is very young so maybe at a higher level we may have some physical problems, that remains to be seen," he said. "We are almost not training at all. This is where we see how far we have got. If we haven't learned before we come here [to the tournament] we can forget it."

Schiemer absence
Meanwhile Austria will be without the suspended Franz Schiemer, who picked up yellow cards in each of the first two games. As well as compensating for his absence coach Weber must ponder whether to include Christoph Sauerer, a substitute in the first two games and also his side's only goalscorer in the tournament so far. "We'll have to make one change for sure because of the two yellow cards," Weber said. "We'll put out the best eleven that gives us the chance of reaching the semi-finals."

Morale boost
Sunday's second Group A game sees host nation Portugal facing Hungary in Viseu. With the Portuguese assured of top spot and the Hungarians already eliminated the game has no major significance but both sides will be keen to boost their morale with a win.

'A very difficult game'
Portugal coach António Violante might rotate his side, having made just one change to his starting lineup between the first and second games. "Rotation is important because the games are so close together," he said. "Hungary are a good team. It will be a very difficult game. But a good game."

Learning process
Hungary's elimination is their fifth successive in the group stages of this tournament and its Under-16 predecessor. However qualifying for five tournaments in a row is itself a formidable achievement and the 18 players in István Varga's squad will all go home the better for their experiences of the last few days. "Our strength is in our team spirit," Varga said.