Bendtner backs Danes to cause upset

14 May 2010 09:48
icklas Bendtner is certainly a young man who has never been short of confidence.[LNB] The 22-year-old may have drawn some taunts for his luminous boots and tendency to miss chances he really should put away, but few deny the impact the Denmark striker can have.[LNB]Indeed, following the loss of Robin van Persie to injury, it was Bendtner who provided a much-needed presence in the Arsenal attack once he had overcome his own fitness problems at the turn of the year.[LNB]While Denmark are not expected to make it much further than out of a group containing leading challengers Holland, Japan and a strong Cameroon side - which will present a chance to face Arsenal team-mates Van Persie and then African midfielder Alex Song - Bendtner maintains it is all about positive thinking.[LNB]"I expect that we will go there and have a great campaign," he declared.[LNB]"We are going there to win the tournament. Denmark have produced plenty of upsets in football history, so why not again?"[LNB]Yet perhaps with a touch more realism than just youthful bravado, Bendtner continued: "If we don't qualify from our group, it will be a huge disappointment.[LNB]"But what happens if we qualify for the next phase is impossible to say.[LNB]"From the match schedule, it looks as if we might play against Italy in the last 16, and to face the reigning world champions would of course be a major test for us."[LNB]Having seen off Portugal and Scandinavian rivals Sweden to qualify top of their European group with just one defeat from 10 matches, Bendtner accepts for the Danes to stand any chance of enjoying a successful stay in South Africa, Morten Olsen will need all of his key men to stay healthy.[LNB]Keeper Thomas Sorensen dislocated his elbow during Stoke's Barclays Premier League game at Chelsea, but has been included in the initial squad for the tournament.[LNB]"We don't have as many options as some of the big nations, and it's therefore very important that our best players are available," Bendtner said in an interview with fifa.com.[LNB]"It's especially crucial that those who play in positions in which we don't have many alternatives remain fit.[LNB]"If they can remain fit throughout the tournament, I believe we can go far.[LNB]"It's also extremely important that the players are ready mentally as well as physically."[LNB]Bendtner reached double figures with Arsenal for a second successive season, scoring some crucial goals - including a hat-trick in the Champions League against Porto as well as dramatic late winners over Hull and Wolves which kept his side in the title race until their late-season loss of form.[LNB]Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger continues to have great faith in the Denmark youngster, whom he sent to Birmingham for a successful loan spell during the 2006/07 campaign.[LNB]"He is important because he gives us something different," said Wenger.[LNB]"Bendtner has size, he is good in the air so on crosses you have hope with him.[LNB]"When people tell us 'you have no Plan B' he gives us a little bit.[LNB]"We always want to play football but he gives us an option in the air that we don't have without him."[LNB]Wenger recalled: "I saw Nicklas Bendtner in the reserves and he had an impact in the games.[LNB]"But you felt as well that he needed to go somewhere to toughen up and there is no better place in the world than the [English] Championship to give a player a realistic view of how hard this job is.[LNB]"He went there and in fairness to him, he became a regular player straight away, which shows you he has the qualities to survive at the top level."

Source: Team_Talk