Danes planning their own ‘party’ at the Matildas’ expense

That’s the belief of the Danes’ confident coach Lars Sondergaard, whose team has no intention of exiting the tournament at the round-of-16 stage at Stadium Australia.

“We’re going to have our own party if we succeed in ruining a party, and that part is fine for me,” Sondergaard said.

“Of course it’s going to be a difficult game but we see chances, and we’re living in this dream and we want to continue living there as long as possible, even until the final day of the tournament.

“As a small country as well, we’re used to being underdogs when we play against the big nations.

“Australia as a home team with a lot of spectators behind them could be said to be favourites and we’re fine with it.

“We want to surprise against them, and we also think – that’s the most important thing – that we can do it.”

The Danes finished second in their group behind European champions, but have only conceded one goal in their three previous matches at the tournament.

Breaking down the Scandinavians is a challenge that the Matildas’ Sweden-born coach Tony Gustavsson acknowledges will be tough.

“I’m very, very impressed with how they’ve performed,” Gustavsson said.

“They’re extremely organised. You can see it’s a team that plays for each other.

“They’re a good pressing team that works really hard at defence. They’re really good on the break, and if you look at where their players play, they have tons of players at top clubs and top leagues in Europe, and most of them play in teams that play very passing-oriented, attacking football.

“And then finally their wider game, their crossing game has been phenomenal, and then add set pieces to that … so we need to be extremely humble and realise that we need to focus in every single second of the game and be as solid defensively as we we’re against Canada.”

The Matildas thrashed the Canadians 4-0 in Melbourne last Monday to secure top spot in Group B.

While more was expected of a Canada team that won gold at the Tokyo Olympics, Australia’s performance in the must-win affair has raised expectations about the Matildas’ hopes of being crowned world champions on August 20.

Gustavsson was adamant his team would again rise to the occasion against Denmark despite suggestions the Matildas had already played their “final”.

“It’s about putting the right player in the right position in the right mindset, and we got that right against Canada,” he said.

“Doing the same against Denmark is going to be key because it is about the mindset … not looking at the Canada game as a final because it was just the start of something.

“This is the start of the playoffs. We’re not going into the end of something, we’re going into the start of something, and that mindset is key for us.”

Gustavsson was set to meet with the Matildas’ medical staff on Sunday night to devise a playing plan for captain Sam Kerr, who is yet to play in the tournament due to a calf injury that continues to prevent her training fully with the team.

Originally published as Denmark ready to break Aussie hearts in do-or-die FIFA Women’s World Cup battle