Thaindian News

Lviv, June 14 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Denmark coach Morten Olsen has praised his players for their performances in Wednesday’s last-gasp 3-2 defeat to Portugal.

Portugal stole all three points three minutes from time when substitute Silvestre Varela struck low into the corner, not long after Nicklas Bendtner thought he had rescued a 2-2 draw with his second headed goal of the match.

“I didn’t think to the last minutes that we would drop points,” Olsen said.

“Today I think we were a little bit unlucky. We deserved a point,” he said.

The result threw Group B wide open with the top three, Germany, Denmark and Portugal, all on three points. Germany can qualify for the quarterfinals with a win over the Netherlands later Wednesday.

Denmark enjoyed the majority of possession at Arena Lviv against a wasteful Portuguese side, who spurned a number of good chances through Cristiano Ronaldo in particular.

“We had possession, we should have made use of this pressure,” Olsen said.

But Olsen refused to end on a downbeat note, saying he got even more satisfaction from the way his players turned around his two-goal half-time deficit than from the shock 1-0 defeat of the Dutch in the opening game.

“If I was proud of the game against Holland, I was more proud of the second half against Portugal,” he said.

Olsen will be sweating on the fitness of winger Dennis Rommedahl and defensive midfielder Niki Zimling, who both limped off during the game, for Sunday’s last group game against Germany.

–IANS/RIA Novosti
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