Slow starters Italy gear up for speedy Danes

Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni expects Monday’s Group C opener against Denmark to be a fusion of football styles rather than a culture...

Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni expects Monday’s Group C opener against Denmark to be a fusion of football styles rather than a culture clash.

The Italians, known for tight defence and short passing, have successfully introduced a swifter approach under the 64-year-old, while he says Denmark have more than just the typical Scandinavian attributes of hard work and long balls.

“The Danes have a Nordic mentality and many of the qualities associated with Scandinavian teams throughout the years but they have also got a Latin touch,” Trapattoni said this week.

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“They have learnt from other countries and they have a lot of players who have played elsewhere in Europe and they bring in another influence.”

Indeed four of the likely Danish starting line-up have experience of Italy’s Serie A with Inter Milan’s Thomas Helveg at right back, Udinese’s Martin Jorgensen in midfield and AC Milan forward Jon Dahl Tomasson up front as well as former Milan and Verona defender Martin Laursen.

Italy start as favourites for the opener after finishing runners-up four years ago in Belgium and the Netherlands when they were unbeaten in normal time throughout the tournament before falling to a French ’golden goal’ in the final.

The Azzurri, World Cup winners in 1982, won the European championship on home soil in 1968 but the Danes have more recent memories of success, having triumphed against all expectations in 1992.

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Italy are notoriously slow starters in tournaments, often letting high expectations unnerve them. Those psychological weaknesses, evident in Italy’s early exit from the World Cup at the hands of South Korea two years ago, give Helveg hope of a surprise result.

“Italy are favourites but it remains to be seen if they are relaxed because it is not enough to be in ideal shape and form, to win you also need to have your head right as well as some luck,” said the Danish defender. Trapattoni’s starting line-up has been virtually settled for weeks with Argentine-born Mauro Camoranesi expected to start on the right flank with Alessandro Del Piero on the left and Francesco Totti playing behind target-man Christian Vieri.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Venue: Guimaraes, Afonso Henriques Stadium
Referee: Manuel Enrique Mejuto (Spain)

DENMARK
Coach: Morten Olsen
World ranking: 15
Average age of squad: 27
Most capped player:
Thomas Helveg (84)
Leading scorer: Jon Dahl Tomasson (28)

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ITALY
Coach: Giovanni Trapattoni
World ranking: 10
Average age of squad: 28
Most capped player: Fabio Cannavaro (78)
Leading scorer: Alessandro Del Piero (23)
Last meeting (Euro qualifier)September 8 1999, Naples (Italy)
RESULT: Italy 2 (Diego Fuser, Christian Vieri) lost to Denmark 3 (Martin Joergensen , Morten Wieghorst, Tomasson)
Head To Head PLAYED : 10
Denmark : 3; Italy : 7 Draws : 0