SYDNEY, Aug. 6 (silubaba) -- Denmark coach Lars Sondergaard said his team will try to spoil Australia's day in the knockout stage of the FIFA Women's World Cup.
"We are going to have our own party if we succeed in ruining a party, and that party is fine for me," Sondergaard said at a press conference in Sydney, one day ahead of the Denmark-Australia clash in the round of 16.
"Of course, it's going to be a difficult game, but we see chances and as I said, we live in this dream and we want to continue living there as long as possible and even until the final day of the tournament," the coach noted.
In the group phase, Denmark conceded only one goal to high-ranked England, finishing second in Group D with two wins and one loss, while Australia edged Ireland with a penalty, suffered a 3-2 upset against Nigeria, and eventually celebrated a thumping 4-0 victory over Olympic champion Canada.
Sondergaard expected Australia to play in a similar manner as they had done in their last game where they were "very successful".
"We shouldn't forget that they played against the Olympic champions in that game, one of the favorites also here at this tournament, and played a very fine game I have to say," he said.
"So that's the way I expect them to play, dynamic, quick. I think it's also going to be a very lively game tomorrow," Sondergaard told reporters.
Monday's match between Denmark and Australia will unfold at Stadium Australia, with over 70,000 spectators expected to fill the stands, as well as Sydney Opera House, to support the Matildas.
"As a small country as well, in a way, we're used to being underdogs when we play against big nations," said Sondergaard.
"Australia, as a home team with a lot of spectators behind them, could be said to be favorites and we live very fine with it. We want to surprise against them and I think that's the most important thing that we can do," he added.
Discussing Denmark captain Pernille Harder and her former Chelsea teammate Sam Kerr, Sondergaard felt happy to see "two of the world's best players, especially offensive players, in one game."
"I don't see it as a matchup because they're not playing directly towards each other. But they are they're both able to design the game," said the coach. ■
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