MATCH 05 PREVIEW : DANGEROUS DANES AWAIT ITALY

Gravesen suspended
Optimism has been fuelled by news that Olsen has no new injury worries, although winger Jesper Grønkjær has stayed in Denmark following his mother's death, while midfield linchpin Thomas Gravesen is suspended. The absence of Gravesen, sent off in the final qualifier against Bosnia-Herzegovina, is a blow; one Olsen will look to compensate for by moving experienced right-back Thomas Helveg into a midfield holding role.

Jørgensen fit
The versatile FC Internazionale player could be partnered by FC Schalke 04's Christian Poulsen in the centre as the Danes line up in an adventurous 4-2-3-1 formation. PSV Eindhoven winger Dennis Rommedahl takes Grønkjær's place on the right with Martin Jørgensen, fully fit after shaking off a thigh strain, on the left and Jon Dahl Tomasson playing a withdrawn role behind Ebbe Sand.

Wing threat
Tomasson is one of five Denmark players who spent 2003/04 in Serie A. The 27-year-old, scorer of 12 league goals for AC Milan last season, will be up against club-mate Alessandro Nesta - a challenge he told euro2004.com he is relishing. "I don't expect to get much room," he said, "but the Italians are not used to playing against two wingers so I'm sure we will cause them trouble."

Del Piero duel
Italy, though, have no shortage of attacking threats either - particularly since Trapattoni reverted to a system that incorporates two playmakers behind the main striker. Francesco Totti will play in his preferred position just behind Christian Vieri, while Alessandro Del Piero will occupy the left flank with his Juventus FC team-mate Mauro Camoranesi on the right. Del Piero's duel with Brian Priske, the full-back likely to fill in for Helveg, promises to be an important contest.

Denmark (probable): Sørensen; Priske, Laursen, Henriksen, N Jensen; Rommedahl, Helveg, Poulsen, Jørgensen; Tomasson, Sand.

Italy: Buffon; Panucci, Nesta, Cannavaro, Zambrotta; Zanetti, Perrotta; Camoranesi, Totti, Del Piero; Vieri.

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