[Frank Cunha]

Denmark brings a young squad to face U.S.
(Jan. 9, 2004) -- Denmark head coach Morten Olsen will bring a young 20-man roster to play the United States on Sunday, January 18 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. (ESPN – 3:30 PM ET).
Every player on the roster plays in the Danish Superliga which is on winter break until March. Because it is not an international match date, the most well-known players like Jon Dahl Tomasson, Ebbe Sand, Martin Jorgensen and others will not be released from their clubs. Still, Olsen will be using this game to prepare these young players for possible inclusion in the team that will take part in the 2004 European Championship this summer in Portugal.

“The game against the United States is important to us in many ways. It’s our first step towards the final rounds of the EURO 2004, we will field a number of our most talented players trying to make their way into the final squad for the tournament in June and we’ll be facing competent opposition”, Olsen told the Denmark Football Federation.

Three players come from Copenhagen-based Brøndby who are the leading team in the Superliga at the winter break including 1998 World Cup hero Morten Wieghorst. FC Copenhagen (København), the team with 15 Danish titles, contributes the most to the roster with six players.

The 32-year old Wieghorst has played 29 internationals including appearances at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France before he was seriously affected by Guillaien-Barré syndrome and at one point kept alive on a respirator. The illness kept him away from competitive football for the most of the past two years. Wieghorst, since moving from Glasgow Celtic, has led Brøndby to the third round of the UEFA Cup against Spanish giants FC Barcelona.

Eight of the players Olsen is bringing to the match are uncapped including domestic league top scorer Tommy Bechmann from Esbjerg who is already heading to German club Bochum next season. AB goalkeeper Stephen Andersen was one of the important players for Denmark’s Under-21 team, and he is expected to start in goal.

The last time the two countries met was on January 22, 1997 at the Rose Bowl with Joe-Max Moore scoring the lone goal in a 4-1 loss.

Denmark will also play Guatemala on this tour at the Los Angeles Coliseum on Saturday, January 26, but that game may not be played because of Guatemala’s current suspension by FIFA.

Goalkeepers: Stephan Andersen (AB), Peter Skov-Jensen (FC Midtjylland)

Defenders: Martin Albrechtsen (FC København), Peter Christiansen (FC København), Per Nielsen (Brøndby IF), Bo Svensson (FC København), Asbjørn Sennels (Viborg FF), Ulrik Vinzents (FC Nordsjælland)

Midfielders: David Rasmussen (FC Nordsjælland), Martin Retov (Brøndby IF), Thomas Røll-Larsen (FC København), Nicolai Stokholm (OB), Morten Wieghorst (Brøndby IF), Tommy Bechmann (Esbjerg FB), Søren Berg (OB)

Forwards: Morten Bisgaard (FC København), Denni Conteh (FC Nordsjælland), Steffen Højer (OB), Jan Kristiansen (Esbjerg FB), Michael Silberbauer (FC København)