Villa fans get look at Laursen

Aston Villa fans will get to see their newest recruit Martin Laursen showcase his talents against one of the world’s best strikers today.

The Danish defender has the unenviable task of shackling Inter Milan’s Christian Vieri in the Group C opener but Laursen, who has moved to England from AC Milan, is not unduly worried.

“I’m not afraid of Vieri,” he said.

“If you are afraid you have already lost. I believe in myself and I have done well against Vieri before. I see it as a huge challenge. He fits me well even though he’s big and strong and has a strong shot and can score after being invisible for 88 minutes."

Denmark coach Morten Olsen will have 22 players available for training with the only absence being that of Chelsea winger Jesper Gronkjaer, who will miss the game after the death of his mother earlier in the week.

His team-mates, who are hoping the experienced player will be back for their second game against Bulgaria, decided to cancel Friday afternoon’s training as a mark of respect.

Denmark travelled to the northern town of Guimaraes in high spirits after the recovery from injury of defender Kasper Bogelund, midfielders Claus Jensen and Martin Jorgensen, striker Peter Lovenkrands and goalkeeper Stephan Andersen who all struggled throughout the week with minor injury setbacks.