An injury sustained by national keeper Thomas Sørensen in Denmark’s dismal 1-3 defeat to the Brazilian Olympic side on Saturday will keep him out of Euro 2012.
Stephan Andersen is expected to replace him for Saturday’s friendly against Australia at Parken, and the opening game at Euro 2012, against the Netherlands on June 9. Leicester City’s Kasper Schmeichel, meanwhile, has been called up as cover.
Nevertheless, it is doubtful whether Sørensen would have kept his place after yet another poor performance.
A horrible howler – one of three high-profile mistakes the Dane has made in the last six months (the most memorable being against Russia in February) – led to the Brazilians’ opening goal in the eighth minute, and it was all downhill from there as the samba boys raced to a convincing 3-0 half-time lead.
The Danish keeper should have easily dealt with Hulk’s 25-metre dipping shot that hit the ground and flew into the net under his body. And then five minutes later, Brazil went further ahead after Christian Poulsen lost possession in a dangerous area and Niki Zimling scored an own goal with a clumsy clearance attempt.
Andersen, who like three other members of the squad plays for French side Evian, then replaced an injured Sørensen in the 25th minute, but could do nothing about Brazil’s third and Hulk’s second – this time capitalising on a mistake by Daniel Agger in the 40th minute.
Denmark improved after the break – most notably due to the introductions of Dennis Rommedahl and Thomas Kahlenberg – and grabbed a consolation in the 71st minute through Nicklas Bendtner.
It was a disappointing performance by the national team against a mostly under-23 Brazilian side preparing for the Olympics – particularly as they were missing their star striker Neymar.
Meanwhile, Morten Olsen has confirmed Nordsjælland defender Jores Okore and Groningen striker Nicklas Pedersen as the final names in his squad of 23 for this month’s Euro 2012 finals. Olsen initially named 20 players on May 16, adding Manchester United keeper Anders Lindegaard after he passed a fitness test.
Okore’s inclusion takes the Superliga champions’ contingent up to three, while Pedersen made a late appearance in Denmark’s defeat to Brazil.
