Hamburg: Considering the opposition it will face next month at the European Championship, it`s clear why Denmark would pick one of the top teams in the world for one of their buildup matches.
Denmark probably wishes Brazil could have shown up with an even stronger squad for Saturday`s friendly in Hamburg.
The location in Germany will allow German fans to have a close look at one of the teams Germany will face at Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine.
The toughest group of the tournament also includes the Netherlands and Portugal. Of the four teams, Denmark have the lowest ranking at No. 10.
Brazil are No. 6 but they come to Hamburg without some of their top young stars, most notably striker Neymar, who has club commitments back home.
The five-time World Cup champions are building up for the London Olympics, the only significant competition they have never won, so the match in Hamburg is not without importance for Brazil either.
Neymar`s Santos teammates, goalkeeper Rafael and playmaker Paulo Henrique Ganso, were also released from the friendly.
The Santos players will join the Brazilian squad for friendlies against the United States on May 30, Mexico on June 3 and Argentina on June 9. The matches will be played in the United States.
Brazil have called up Manchester United right back Rafael to replace the injured Daniel Alves for the upcoming friendlies.
Alves broke his collarbone while practicing with Barcelona.
The last time Denmark played Brazil were at the 1998 World Cup in France, when Denmark reached the quarterfinals before losing to the Brazilians.
Denmark have been in training camp since May 17 and coach Morten Olsen has said he intends to use most of his players in the test against Brazil.
Denmark`s volatile star, Sunderland striker Nicklas Bendtner, is one player in Olson`s squad who could prove to be the difference.
Veteran winger Dennis Rommedahl had an outstanding World Cup two years ago in South Africa but at 38, he is nearing the end of his career and nursing a thigh injury.
Denmark are seeking inspiration from their stunning 1992 success, when they won the European title as a late replacement for war-torn Yugoslavia, assembling players from their beach vacations.
BDST: 2145 HRS, May 25, 2012
Edited by
Chanchal Ghosh, Newsroom Editor
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