International Friendlies
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1 vs 3
Played
May 26, 2012 2:30 PM BST
Imtech Arena — Hamburg
Referee:‬ F. Brych‎
Attendance:‬ 52000‎
 
71′ Nicklas Bendtner
Hulk 8′
 
Niki Zimling 13′ (OG)
 
Hulk 40′

Denmark - Brazil Preview: Selecao commence Olympic preparations with difficult test in Hamburg

Mano Menezes sends a depleted team to Germany to face a dangerous Denmark side who are hoping for a successful Euro 2012 campaign having missed out on the finals four years ago

By Daniel Edwards

More On :  Brazil, Denmark, Denmark vs Brazil
Marcelo - Brasil x Bosnia
Rafael Ribeiro/CBF
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

DENMARK

Sorensen
Jacobson, Kjaer, Agger, Poulsen
Zimling, Kvist
Rommedahl, Eriksen, Krohn-Dehli
Bendtner
BRAZIL

Jefferson
Danilo, T. Silva, David Luiz, Marcelo
Sandro, Romulo 
Lucas Moura, Oscar
L. Damiao, Hulk

Denmark's Morten Olsen closed his squad for Euro 2012 with the inclusions of Nicklas Pedersen and Jores Okore, and the chosen 23 will first face the South American giants before hosting Australia in Copenhagen seven days later. Captain Daniel Agger missed the Danes' last match against Russia with a fractured rib, but the Liverpool man is back to full fitness and is expected to lead his side out in Hamburg on Saturday.

Brazil coach Mano Menezes has been plagued with injury doubts as he prepares for the London 2012 Olympics, as it was confirmed that Ganso would undergo minor knee surgery, which puts the Santos man out of the Selecao's warm-up matches. Dani Alves is another casualty and will be replaced on Saturday by Danilo, while Neymar's Libertadores commitments mean he misses the friendly, giving Hulk and Damiao the chance to start up front.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Denmark's last international game ended in a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Russia.
  • Euro 2012 will mark the Danes' sixth appearance in the continental tournament out of the last seven, having failed to qualify in 2008 for the first time in 24 years.
  • Four players in the Danish Euro squad feature for French fairytale outfit Evian. Stephan Andersen, Daniel Wass, Thomas Kahlenberg and Christian Poulsen all helped the side to ninth place in Ligue 1 after two successive promotions.

  • Coach Morten Olsen (right) has been at the helm since 2000, directing in his fourth major tournament.
  • Brazil, meanwhile, have been coached by no less than six trainers since Olsen took over at Saturday's rivals. Mano Menezes is the sixth man to sit on the bench in the last 12 years.
  • The Selecao squad, with a view to the Olympics, does not contain a single player aged 30 or over. Botafogo keeper Jefferson is the veteran of the group at 28 and with four caps.
  • Similarly, only five players in the squad - Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Lucas, Alexandre Pato and Neymar - have represented their country 10 times or more.
  • The Olympic Games has never been won by a Brazilian team; silver-medal finishes in 1984 (Los Angeles) and 1988 (Seoul) remain the best performances.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Denmark 0-3 Brazil
    13.86 %
  • Denmark 1-3 Brazil
    12.28 %
  • Denmark 0-2 Brazil
    12.19 %
Head to Head
International Friendlies ‎(FR)‎ May 26, 2012 Denmark 1 - Brazil 3
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
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Last Five Matches
Denmark
Mar 26, 2013Denmark 1 - Bulgaria 1WCQ
Mar 22, 2013Czech Rep. 0 - Denmark 3WCQ
Feb 6, 2013Macedonia FYR 3 - Denmark 0FR
Jan 31, 2013Mexico 1 - Denmark 1FR
Jan 26, 2013Canada 0 - Denmark 4FR
Brazil
Apr 25, 2013Brazil 2 - Chile 2FR
Apr 6, 2013Bolivia 0 - Brazil 4FR
Mar 25, 2013Brazil 1 - Russia 1FR
Mar 21, 2013Italy 2 - Brazil 2FR
Feb 6, 2013England 2 - Brazil 1FR
Odds
Returns: Denmark £710.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Draw £460.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Brazil £19.10 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Team News
Available Squads
-Thomas Sørensen
4Daniel AggerDefender
18Daniel WassDefender
3Simon KjaerDefender
5Simon Busk PoulsenDefender
8Christian EriksenMidfielder
-Christian Poulsen
14Lasse SchöneMidfielder
21Niki ZimlingMidfielder
9Michael Krohn-DehliStriker
11Nicklas BendtnerStriker
-Thomas Kahlenberg
1Stephan AndersenGoalkeeper
19Jakob PoulsenMidfielder
10Dennis RommedahlStriker
17Nicklas PedersenStriker
-JeffersonGoalkeeper
14DaniloDefender
4JuanDefender
12MarceloDefender
3Thiago SilvaDefender
-LucasMidfielder
-OscarMidfielder
8RômuloMidfielder
5SandroMidfielder
-HulkStriker
-Leandro DamiãoStriker
-Rafael Silva
15Alex SandroDefender
-Wellington Nem
-Giuliano
-Casemiro
13Bruno UviniDefender
Players to Watch
Thomas Sørensen
Thomas Sørensen
Position:
Squad Number: 0
Games Goals YC RC
0 0 0 0
The veteran reached 100 caps in February against Russia, and prepares for his third major championship between the posts for Denmark as he continues the nation's tradition of accomplished goalkeepers. Stopping the prolific Hulk and Damiao in their tracks would prove great practice for a successful Euro 2012 campaign.
Hulk
Hulk
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 0
Games Goals YC RC
2 0 0 0
For all the talent Brazil can boast in the final third of the pitch, goals have often been in short supply as the team's attack fails to click. Mano will bet on the physicality and composure of the imposing Porto man to try and break the jinx, as Hulk gets a more than deserved chance to start thanks to Neymar's absence.
Prediction
Denmark's experienced defence are not accustomed to leaking goals cheaply, and it could prove too much for a Selecao team who are yet to convince since Mano Menezes took over after the 2010 World Cup. A low-key draw looks a good bet.
Editor's Prediction
Denmark 1
Brazil 1
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Ashraf Nu'man Alfawaghra Ashraf Nu'man Alfawaghra
Midfielder
Al Faisaly Amman 		4 1
Andreas Cornelius Andreas Cornelius
Striker
Copenhagen 		4 1
Mikael Forssell Mikael Forssell
Striker
HJK Helsinki 		3 1
Fred Fred
Striker
Fluminense 		3 0
Felipe Caicedo Felipe Caicedo
Striker
Lokomotiv 		3 0