Int'l Friendly: South Africa - Denmark

Posted Saturday, June 05, 2010 by Goal.com

World Cup fever is gripping South Africa, and Bafana Bafana will be wanting to end their preparations on a positive note...

Kick Off: Saturday, June 5, 2010. 15:30 CET
Atteridgeville Super Stadium, Atteridgeville

Ready To Roll

World Cup fever is really starting to grip South Africa, and with less than a week remaining before hostilities ensue, the host nation are really getting into their stride. Carlos Alberto Parreira's reappointment as head coach and a strong sequence of recent results have combined to ensure that Saturday's friendly with Denmark is a sell-out affair.

Parreira appears to be in confident mood, having seen his side register four wins in their last five international matches, all of which have been played since a 0-0 draw with North Korea on April 22. “We are ready to face any team. We don't have to fear anybody. We have to respect everybody, but no fear,” he told the press.

“When the ball moves anything can happen and we are ready. The team have shown that they are improving.

“The shape is there, the identity is there, we keep the ball on the ground and we are scoring the goals. We are ready for the World Cup.”

European opposition have traditionally proved troublesome for Bafana, whose last loss was recorded at the hands of Iceland. Indeed, the only one of their last five matches not to be won came against Bulgaria, so it would be a major confidence boost for the side if they could shake the monkey that is presently on their back when they face Denmark.

Getting Used To Conditions

Many European teams have conducted a large portion of their preparation for the World Cup at home or in the Alpine countries of Austria or Switzerland, but Denmark have bucked the trend by travelling early to South Africa, where they are attempting to acclimatise quickly.

Already the Danes have encountered problems, with altitude and the lightness of the ball cited as issues after a 1-0 friendly defeat against Australia. “We still have two weeks to get used to the conditions because from what I saw it was very, very difficult to control the ball. But, of course, every team has to cope with that,” long serving coach Morten Olsen told Kickoff.com.

Denmark may have enjoyed a great deal of possession in that encounter, but they were found to be wanting for penetration, much to the coach's dismay. “We had a lot of the ball but it doesn't matter in football how much possession you have, it is scoring goals that counts,” he grumbled at full-time.

Saturday's encounter against South Africa provides Olsen with one final chance to observe his team in a match situation ahead of the tournament, and perhaps more crucially, it will allow his players to further educate themselves with regards the local climate and the movement of the ball.

FORM GUIDE

South Africa

WON 5-0 (h) Guatemala (Friendly, May 31)

WON 2-0 (h) Colombia (Friendly, May 27)

DREW 1-1 (h) Bulgaria (Friendly, May 24)

WON 4-0 (h) Thailand (Friendly, May 16)

WON 2-0 (h) Jamaica (Friendly, April 28)

Denmark

LOST 1-0 (n) Australia (Friendly, June 1)

WON 2-0 (n) Senegal (Friendly, May 27)

LOST 2-1 (a) Austria (Friendly, March 3)

WON 3-0 (a) Thailand (Friendly, January 23)

WON 5-1 (a) Singapore (Friendly, January 20)

TEAM NEWS

South Africa

Bafana welcome back first choice 'keeper Itumeleng Khune and European-based left-back Tshepo Masilela, which will be good news for the squad as they are two key players who are likely to start at the World Cup. They were both rested in the match against Guatemala on Monday, and now coach Carlos Alberto Parreira can count on a full strength side for the Denmark encounter.

Probable Starting XI: Khune; Masilela, Mokoena, Khumalo, Gaxa; Modise, Dikgacoi, Pienaar, Khuboni; Parker, Mphela

Denmark

Neither Arsenal forward Nicklas Bendtner nor goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen are expected to take any part in Saturday’s encounter due to injury problems, but both should be healthy by the time the World Cup starts.

Probable Starting XI: Andersen; L. Jacobsen, Kjaer, Agger, Mtiliga; Rommedahl, D. Jensen, Poulsen, M. Jorgensen; Tomasson, Larsen

PLAYERS TO WATCH

South Africa

Twente forward Bernard Parker was one of the most impressive figures in the South African side that finished fourth in the Confederations Cup last season. Though he has not enjoyed a bright spell in the Eredivisie, he scored a stunning long-range strike in the recent destruction of Guatemala and will look to use that as a catalyst for a good run.

Denmark

With Nicklas Bendtner injured, much of the offensive spark in the Danish team would seem to have been extinguished. Soren Larsen will try to step up to the plate. Having flopped in France with Toulouse, the 28-year-old enjoyed good production with Duisburg towards the tail end of last season, and 11 goals in 18 internationals suggest he is a man worth keeping an eye on.

PREDICTION

Backed by a large home support, the South Africans will want to make a big impression in their final warm-up match. Denmark, however, are no sloutches, and if anything will start the game as marginal favourites. Given the momentum behind Bafana, they have the capability of scoring a draw.

South Africa 1-1 Denmark