Danes Ready for Winning Czechs

Denmark coach Morten Olsen believes his side can go all the way at Euro 2004 and emulate the success of the championship-winning team of 12 years ago. But first, the Danes will have to get past a very strong side from the Czech Republic in Porto.

"Football is all about tradition and history and the question I am being asked the most is 'Can you do it again?'," said Olsen, a member of the 1984 Danish team that reached the semi-finals in France. "We are hoping to go all the way and some of the surprise results in the tournament have shown us anything is possible."

Denmark actually failed to qualify for the 1992 tournament. But the Scandinavians were allowed into the tournament at the last minute in place of Yugoslavia, which was suspended a week before the tournament was due to start because of international sanctions imposed upon them because of war in the Balkans.

The Danes haven't been beaten yet this tournament, but they haven't won all their matches either -- unlike the Czechs. Olsen identified Czech captain Pavel Nedved as one of the players they will need to watch closely on Sunday if they want to advance.

"He is a very good player and very important for their team," said Olsen. "He doesn't play for himself, he's a team player and that speaks volumes for him and the Czech Republic."

Unstoppable Czechs?

The Czechs are the only team to win all of their three first round group matches at Euro 2004, a feat all more amazing since they have always managed to come from behind. That's something Nedved wants to change against Denmark.

"We've always had to fight back, but now I hope we will be able to lead from the front," said the star Juventus midfielder said.

The Czechs, beaten by Germany in the 1996 European championship finals, have become this year's favourites after their strong performances against Latvia, Holland and Germany. Six points from their first two matches ensured qualification for the quarterfinals, so coach Karel Bruckner made nine changes for the final match against Germany. Nedved was one of those given a well-deserved rest.

Determined to maintain their flawless run, even a second-string Czech team proved too strong for the Germans and recovered from going a goal down to win 2-1, a result that sent Germany home after just three matches.

But Nedved, a member of the team which lost to Germany at Wembley eight years ago, rejects suggestions that the Czechs should be seen as favourites having lost the last time they met the Danes in a 2001 World Cup qualifier.

"They like to attack like we do and will be a tough nut to crack," added the Czech captain known in Italy as 'The Cannon' because of his powerful shooting. "We are a long way from thinking about the final. We're only in the quarters. I would say it is about 50-50 as to who will go through."