Euro 2016 qualifying: Denmark’s Morten Olsen optimistic of progress

Sport360 staff 09:47 17/11/2015
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  • Wise old head: Morten Olsen.

    Denmark coach Morten Olsen is confident his side can overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit and qualify for Euro 2016 when they host Sweden at a sold-out Telia Parken on Tuesday.

    Substitute Nicolai Jorensen’s 80th-minute goal kept Denmark’s hopes alive after Emil Forsberg and Zlatan Ibrahimovic had given Sweden a 2-0 lead in the opening leg in Solna on Saturday.

    Olsen wants to end his 16-year reign in charge of the Danes in style by leading his country to another major tournament.

    The 66-yearold, who has guided Denmark to the finals of two World Cups and two European Championships, will step down after Euro 2016.

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    “We have to believe,” Olsen said. “I think we have the players who can decide the match. It will be a different game from that in Sweden.

    “There is no doubt that the fantastic support I expect from our home crowd will be a tremendous help. It is up to us together with the crowd to make it happen.”

    Sweden will be without centreback Mikael Antonsson, who sustained a groin problem on Saturday. He is likely to be replaced by Besiktas defender Alexander Milosevic.

    Ibrahimovic will spearhead Sweden’s attack in the hope of leading his country to a Euro finals for a sixth time.

    Fomenko left feeling vulnerable

    Heat is on: Mikhail Fomenko.

    Ukraine head into their play-off second-leg against Slovenia in Maribor with some trepidation despite holding a 2-0 advantage from the opening leg.

    Goals from Andriy Yarmolenko and Yevhen Seleznyov in Saturday’s match in Lviv put the Ukrainians in control of the tie.

    But Ukraine, who made their Euro finals debut in 2012 as co-hosts of the tournament, have lost in five previous qualifying play-offs for major tournaments, their last against France two years ago.

    “For us it would have been better to start the tie away from home but we cannot change anything as that was the draw,” Ukraine coach Mikhail Fomenko said.

    “We have taken the first step and now we need to be calm. Our players know what they have to do.”

    Slovenia, under former UAE coach Srecko Katanec, are attempting to reach their second Euro finals after 2000.

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