23.5.2004
Claus Jensen: "A big international tournament is a lot to do with form"
Denmark's midfielder Claus Jensen speaks about Denmark's chances at Euro 2004. The Dane believes that the tournament features even teams and questions Italy's status as favorites in Group C
Let's talk about Euro 2004. Denmark are in a tough-looking Group C
with Italy, Sweden and Bulgaria. Are Denmark confident going into
the Championship?
Yes, we’re confident. I’m not too concerned about how hard the
group might be because I think every group in the European
Championship is tough. You have the best teams in Europe playing
each other and every game is going to be well-contested. We’ve had
some good results recently and played good football so we’re hopeful
of making our mark this summer.
As a squad, we’re more experienced than we were two years ago. This
team has been together four years now and I think we’re about to
peak. Some of the results we’ve had this year, including friendlies,
have been good. We qualified automatically and the majority of the
players are in their mid twenties, similarly to England.
What have Denmark learnt from the World Cup?
A big international tournament is a lot to do with form and if you
hit the right kind of form, anything can happen.
Italy will start as favourites for many people in Group C. Do you
think yourselves, Sweden and Bulgaria are playing for second place?
No, I don't accept that. Italy are just one opponent. Bulgaria and
Sweden will be equally difficult and I don't think anyone will be
going into the group thinking they’re playing for second place
behind Italy.
There are certain teams in Europe, Italy among them, who will
always be regarded as big teams, but I think it’s a very even
tournament. Having said that, I don’t mind that Italy start as
favourites in our group because it takes the pressure off ourselves,
Bulgaria and Sweden.
Is it a disadvantage to be playing Italy in the first game?
I don’t think it matters who you play first or who you play last.
You have three games, and you have to win probably two of them to go
through. Perhaps you can afford to lose one, depending on how the
group goes, but two wins will take you into the quarter-finals.
Your coach Morten Olsen has been a big figure in the history of
Danish football. What’s it like playing for him?
He is a fantastic coach. The type of football that we have played
under him over the last four years has been very positive and very
attack-minded. Every player knows what he is doing under him and
there’s a great confidence in the fact that we know our way of doing
things is successful.
Who do you think start off as favourites in Portugal this summer?
It’s hard to look beyond France. I think what happened at the World
Cup was a blip for them, and that aside, over the last six years,
they’ve been dominating international football.
Does it concern you that Denmark are in arguably the tougher half of
the draw, with the Group C qualifiers likely to face either Germany,
the Czech Republic or the Netherlands in the last eight?
All the teams at Euro 2004 are strong in their own way. Some teams
might be playing more flamboyantly and offensive, whilst other teams
are more defensive and look to hit you on the break. Whichever group
you’re in, it’s going to be hard.
But if you hit form, then you’re going to achieve good results and
stand a chance of making it into the knock-out stages...Actually, I
didn’t even know that we were in that half of the draw to be
honest!
How do you think England will fare?
The England team has, like Denmark’s, also been together a long
time and I think that will be a big advantage for them. And having
played over here for six years now, I really hope they do well.
They’ll certainly be one of the teams to watch out for.