TheSportsCampus

Denmark’s Euro 2012 preparations received a strong setback as the Scandinavians were thrashed 3-1 by Brazil in an International Friendly at Hamburg. The Samba Boys, led by Hulk brushed aside their European opponents as they went into the half-time break three goals to the good. The Porto star opened the scoring on 8 minutes before adding a 2^nd five minutes before the break. Sandwiched between the two was on own goal from Niki Zimling on 13 minutes, with Hulk unsurprisingly involved in the build-up. Nicklas Bendtner did get a goal back for the Danes, but his 71^st minute strike was scant consolation in an otherwise poor performance.

The Danish defence didn’t cover themselves in glory throughout the 90 minutes and the blunders began early as keeper Thomas Sorenson was at fault for the opener. Hulk picked up the ball close to 25 yards away from goal and let it rip with a stinging low shot. Sorenson had time to gauge the direction of the ball but he misjudged its flight as he let it fly past him and into the left corner of the goal.

The 2^nd goal five minutes later was a comedy of errors as Christian Poulsen lost the ball in a dangerous area on the right, allowing Oscar dos Santos to weave his way into the box and square the ball for Hulk. As the attacker tried to get it under control, Zimling stuck a leg out and turned the ball into his own net as Sorenson was left wrong-footed.

The Stoke City keeper was substituted later in the half with an injury just as Denmark were beginning to get a foothold in the game. Michael Krohn-Dehli missed their best chance as he failed to find the target from a few yards out after Jefferson let a cross run across the face of goal. But the Danish bubble was busted before the break as they were once again guilty of giving the ball away and Hulk took full advantage as he raced towards goal before firing a low shot into the corner.

The 3^rd goal did kill the game as a contest and although Denmark continued to probe, they were unable to get the quick goals they needed at the start of the 2^nd half. Bendtner did give them faint hopes by tapping in Zimling’s cross from the left on 71 minutes. But the young South American side comfortably saw out the rest of the game to collect a hugely satisfying victory.

Teams:

Brazil: Jefferson; Thiago Silva, Juan, Danilo (Rafael, 72), Marcelo (Alex Sandro, 68), Sandro (Casimiro, 85), Lucas (Giuliano, 82), Romulo, Oscar, Leandro Damiao (Wellington Nem, 75), Hulk (Bruno Uvini, 90).

Denmark: Thomas Sorensen (Stephan Andrersen, 25); Simon Kjaer, Daniel Agger, Simon Poulsen, Daniel Wass, Christian Poulsen (Jakob Poulsen, 45), Christian Eriksen (Dennis Rommedahl, 61), Lasse Schone (Thomas Kahlenberg, 25), Niki Zimling, Michael Krohn-Dehli (Nicklas Pedersen, 72), Nicklas Bendtner.

Final Score: Brazil 3-1 Denmark

Goals: Hulk  8' 40', Zimling (OG) 13', Bendtner 71'