Denmark wary of in-form Ibrahimovic
Reuters - Thursday 08 October 2009, 02:00
COPENHAGEN - Sweden are hoping striker
Zlatan Ibrahimovic can use his sizzling Barcelona goal-scoring
form to sharpen their often blunt attack when they face Group
One leaders Denmark in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday.
The match between the Scandinavian rivals could determine
who wins the group and qualifies automatically for next year's
finals in South Africa. Undefeated Denmark, on 18 points, are
three points ahead of second-placed Sweden with two games left.
Sweden's main problem during the campaign has been a lack of
goals. They have lost 1-0 to Denmark, drawn 0-0 twice with
Portugal and once with Albania, and beat Malta 1-0 last month
only thanks to an own goal.
With Ibrahimovic in great form at his new club Barcelona,
scoring five goals in the first five La Liga games this season,
Sweden hope he will build on that momentum. He is likely to be
joined upfront by Henrik Larsson, 38, who is back from injury.
Denmark, whose defence has been hit by injuries, are wary of
the threat Ibrahimovic poses.
"Zlatan is one of the best right now. I have great respect
for his performances," Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner told
Danish tabloid BT.
"He seems to be in a fantastic form in Barcelona, but that
doesn't mean he will be that for Sweden."
Sweden cannot afford to lose in Copenhagen if they want to
keep alive their hopes of topping the group.
Denmark would still be in with a chance of winning the group
if they draw or lose but want to win before they face dangerous
Hungary next week. Sweden's opponents in the final round are the
less imposing Albania at home.
"They (Denmark) are in the best position right now but we
have got a big chance and now we are going to get them," daily
Aftonbladet quoted Ibrahimovic as saying. "If we win, we've got
a big chance of winning the group."
While Sweden have struggled to score, Denmark's troubles
have been at the back because of injuries. The Danes have
fielded a different defence, including a different goalkeeper,
in every qualifier so far.
Liverpool defender Daniel Agger is likely to be back in the
starting lineup for Denmark on Saturday after being sidelined
with back problems since the Sweden match in June.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
"It gives us a boost to have him back, and if nothing bad
happens during the next training sessions, then he'll be in the
lineup (on Saturday)," said Denmark coach Morten Olsen, who has
some unfinished business from the last time the two sides met in
Copenhagen during a Euro 2008 qualifier.
That match, in June 2007, was abandoned in the closing
stages after a fan attacked referee Herbert Fandel after he
awarded the visitors a penalty with the score at 3-3.
Sweden were later awarded a 3-0 victory by UEFA.
"The way I see it, we didn't lose that match. It ended 3-3,"
Olsen was quoted as saying by Aftonbladet.
"In my eyes, we had the upper hand during the last 20
minutes. Then things happened that we more or less could not
control."
Probable teams:
Denmark: Thomas Sorensen; William Kvist, Daniel Agger, Simon
Kjaer, Lars Jacobsen; Christian Poulsen, Jakob Poulsen, Jon Dahl
Tomasson; Dennis Rommedahl, Martin Jorgensen, Nicklas Bendtner.
Sweden: Andreas Isaksson; Mikael Nilsson, Olof Mellberg,
Daniel Majstorovic, Behrang Safari; Kim Kallstrom, Rasmus Elm,
Samuel Holmen, Anders Svensson; Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrik
Larsson.