Star striker Bendtner doubtful for Danish opener
June 11th, 2010 - 6:24 pm ICT by IANS
Knysna (South Africa), June 11 (DPA) Arsenal forward Nicklas Bendtner has been all but ruled out of Denmark’s upcoming World Cup football opener against the Netherlands, Denmark coach Morten Olsen said Friday.
Denmark take on the Group E favourites Monday.
“To be realistic, he can’t play against the Netherlands, but we hope he can be fit for the coming matches,” Olsen told Danish broadcaster TV 2 Sports just before the Danish squad began Friday’s training session in Knysna.
Bendtner, 22, is suffering from a groin injury. But he has not completely ruled himself out of Monday’s match, according to Danish online website sporten.dk.
Olsen, however, has said that only players who are 100 per cent fit will start in Denmark’s World Cup matches.
Of the team’s other questionable players, defender Patrick Mitiliga rested Friday but was expected to be fit for Monday, as are Palermo defender Simon Kjaer, who is nursing a knee injury, and goalkeeper Thomas Srensen.
- Olsen names final Danish squad for World Cup - May 28, 2010
- Denmark still sweating on Bendtner's fitness - Jun 19, 2010
- Denmark need top health in tough group (Group E profile) - May 30, 2010
- Cameroon and Denmark seek quick response to defeats - Jun 18, 2010
- Euro 2012: Danish footballers banned from using social media - Apr 25, 2012
- Denmark defeat Sweden 2-0 in football friendly - Nov 12, 2011
- Winners takes all for Japan and Denmark - Jun 23, 2010
- Pride and Precipice: Contrasting matches in Group E - Jun 23, 2010
- Netherlands make winning start against Danes (Lead) - Jun 14, 2010
- Denmark extends coach's contract till FIFA World Cup 2014 - Nov 01, 2011
- Danish victory over Cameroon puts Dutch through (Lead) - Jun 20, 2010
- Italy start title defence with a draw; Dutch, Japan win (Lead, changing dateline) - Jun 15, 2010
- Danish Dynamite meets Dutch Power - Jun 13, 2010
- Denmark hopes to avoid Brazil, Spain in World Cup draw - Dec 02, 2009
- Cameroon eliminated as Denmark come back for win - Jun 20, 2010
Tags: arsenal, broadcaster, coach, denmark, dk, favourites, groin injury, kjaer, knee injury, morten olsen, netherlands, palermo, south africa, sporten, Sports, star striker, training session, tv 2, world cup football