Denmark coach Morten Olsen has rejected all talk of Scandinavian match-fixing and said Denmark would play to win against Sweden in tomorrow's Euro 2004 Group C derby clash.
Olsen, irritated by questions suggesting a draw might suit both teams, refused to comment and angrily brushed aside all talk of a contrived result as typical Italian speculation.
Talk of a high-scoring draw has circulated in the Italian media since the second round of Group C games was completed, leaving Italy needing to beat already-eliminated Bulgaria to have a chance of reaching the quarter-finals.
"That is ridiculous," snapped Olsen, when asked about the prospect of playing for a draw at a news conference at the team's Porto hotel on Monday. "Who do you think we are? Do you think we are not honest and sporting?
"I will not speak of it. We will be playing for a result - we will not do this in any kind of Italian way."
The match at Porto's Bessa Stadium on Tuesday will be the 98th between Denmark and Sweden. The Swedes won the last meeting in Copenhagen in April, 2000 by the only goal of the game.
If the clash ends in a draw both sides will have five points - a total Italy can only equal if they beat Bulgaria. If all three nations have five points their positions will be decided by goals scored, or goal difference, because they drew their head-to-head meetings.
After two games, Sweden have scored six goals, Denmark two and Italy only one.
Filed by James Boylan
