World Cup 2010: Denmark happy to be underdogs against pedigree Holland

Morten Olsen is hoping Denmark can spring a surprise when they meet Holland in their World Cup opener tomorrowday but concedes that a draw in Johannesburg will be a satisfactory outcome.

The two European countries begin their Group E campaigns at Soccer City knowing a win will go a long way towards aiding progress into the second round. For the Danes, who have progressed to the knockout stage in all three previous appearances at the finals, the game cannot come quickly enough.

"While I've been coach, I think this is the longest training period we've had prior to a major championship," said Olsen. "That's been good but now the preparations are over and that's a good thing. The players want to get going, they want to get cracking with the real matches. We're ready and we are proud to be representing our country at such a big event."

The Dutch are again among the favourites to win the tournament in South Africa and Denmark will be expecting to compete for second place in the group with Japan and Cameroon. Asked about what a realistic outcome from the opening game would be, Olsen said: "A good result would be a draw for us.

"Let me say that the Netherlands are the favourites tomorrow. They have good individual players that play at top international level. It's nice to be a favourite because if you're the favourite it is because you are assumed to be better than the other team but we are certainly ready to take them on."

Reflecting on his side's preparations for the match, Olsen said: "You have to be prepared for your opponent and that's how we have prepared. Any team has restrictions, limitations and weaknesses and obviously it's up to us to see if we can benefit from anything we can find in that department."

The coach revealed that the Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner "cannot play" due to a groin injury and that Jon Dahl Tomasson and Daniel Jensen are injury doubts. The midfielder Christian Poulsen feels the underdog status of Denmark will take the pressure off the players and allow them to play with more freedom.

"We hope we can show how we play as a team and produce a positive surprise," he said. "It's kind of a bonus match, against one of the favourites of the World Cup, and we can only surprise. We're working to see if we can do that and, if we have a very good day, then perhaps we can."

The Holland coach, Bert van Marwijk, concedes there are "no secrets" between his team and Denmark, due to the number of Danes who play in the Dutch league. "We have enormous respect for any opponent, but also for Denmark," he said. "They are two teams that know each other through and through. I don't think we have any secrets from one another. We have the same ideas when it comes to football.

"Yesterday we saw a game that may seem easy to win, England and USA, so we're not going to underestimate Denmark by any means. All I am interested in is the Dutch team. I think two years ago I said that this is the most important match, the first one of the World Cup, and we'll do everything in our power to win it." Holland are expected to have a fully fit squad available, apart from Arjen Robben, who is still training separately following his hamstring problem.