Gronkjaer boost for Danes

Denmark were deflated after failing to capitalise on their strong performance against Italy but Jesper Gronkjaer has given them a Euro 2004 fillip by joining the national team in Lisbon.

The Danes bossed much of the game against the Azzurri but were held to a goalless draw, with Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon in outstanding form.

Morten Olsen’s team played well despite the absence of Gronkjaer, who was back home in Denmark following the death of his mother Irmelin.

The Chelsea winger flew to Lisbon this morning and will train later in the day with his team-mates. He could feature against Bulgaria on Friday.

“We’ve always held a place open for Jesper, and now he feels he’s ready to join the squad,” said Olsen.

“Obviously we’re delighted at his decision. He wants to be treated on the same level as all the other players and we’re convinced that everyone will respect his wish.”

Gronkjaer offers experience, having played for the team at the World Cup in Japan and Korea two years ago, and extreme pace which would present problems for any full-back in the game.

“I look forward to meeting up with the squad and I’m glad of the opportunity that I’ve been given to join up with the others,” he said.

Gronkjaer’s arrival is not the only good news for Olsen.

Thomas Gravesen, the Danes’ most influential player during qualifying who was suspended for the Italy game, will step back into his central midfield role against Bulgaria.

The good news for Italy, meanwhile, is that they were able to avoid defeat and Giovanni Trapattoni’s men are trying to maintain an even keel.

The Azzurri looked as if they were moving in a lower gear than the Danes, although Francesco Totti and Christian Vieri did force goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen into making two superb saves.

No player was more frustrated in the Italian side than Totti, and it was not just down to the result.

Totti is among a group of leading players at the tournament wearing new football boots because of his sponsorship contract with Nike and just as they did in training last week, they continued to cause problems for the Roma star.

“It’s absurd,” Totti said. “I felt as though my feet were in boiling sand. I have one big blister on each foot. I need to resolve this problem and I need to do it as soon as possible.”

Totti’s problems notwithstanding, the Azzurri are still optimistic about their chances with a showdown against Sweden in Porto next.

Captain Fabio Cannavaro, who managed to keep the shackles on Denmark’s AC Milan striker Jon Dahl Tomasson, said: “We have four days to recover and all we have to do is remain calm.

“It’s true that we expected victory, but from what I have seen the team is calm. We have all the possibilities to advance.”

Cannavaro admitted that he had been caught off-guard by Denmark’s performance.

“The level of the European finals is very high and we have to be mentally prepared because if we make any mistakes, we will be punished.

“I have always maintained that this is a complicated group.

“Denmark, Sweden and Bulgaria are teams that make you play.”

Italy’s defence was never breached, yet Cannavaro was not the happiest of players after the game.

He hit out at Tomasson, accusing him of diving on several occasions during Monday’s goalless draw.

“Three times he dived inside the area,” Cannavaro said. “It was clearly fake.”

Tomasson, booked for simulation in the first half, responded: “I was obviously fouled by Cannavaro. We should have been given a penalty.”