Denmark – B. Laudrup: “Nigeria have their weak spots”

Comments from the Mixed Zone before DENMARK’s official training session at the Stade de France, on the eve of match n°51 NIGERIA-DENMARK (round of sixteen).

Peter SCHMEICHEL (1):

“I’m happy to be training this afternoon at the Stade de France, despite the humidity. We’re not used to playing in these conditions. Luckily we’ll play our match in the evening. I wouldn’t say that the Nigerians play a slow game. They take their time to build up in midfield and then explode in attack. The aim of the game is to stop their accelerations which are no secret now “.

Per FRANDZEN (8):

“It’s going to be very difficult for us but we are going to try and get through and score some goals. To prepare for this match we have been watching videos. NIGERIA is a very good team. They are very good technically. But my hopes are high. I quite fancy a DENMARK-FRANCE final”.

Brian LAUDRUP (11):

“Our team is very different to that of 1996. I did not play then but my brother did. Since then we have changed the team coach and players so that the style of our game has completely changed. We didn’t get into gear straight away but we are hoping to have a good game tomorrow against NIGERIA, the most technical team in the world. We haven’t got the players to put on a show. Our game is rather more defensive and tight. We know that NIGERIA have their weak spots and when their game doesn’t go the way they want they become vulnerable. They are certainly the favourites to win, but sometimes the favourites lose. It should help us if it rains tomorrow because the heat doesn’t suit us”.

Michael LAUDRUP (10):

“Even if NIGERIA are the favourites and are a good team, it doesn’t mean that we’re coming to the Stade de France to play a minor role. If I thought that the Nigerians would win tomorrow, I wouldn’t see any point in going out there to play. We saw today that ITALY didn’t have it so easy against NORWAY who are supposedly a weaker team”.