Holland vs Denmark – teams announced
Published:Despite struggling with a groin injury, Nicklas Bendtner will start for Denmark in today’s Group D opener against Holland, which kicks off at 12.30pm.
The Arsenal striker – who is 9/1 to score first – leads the Danish attack as a lone forward, though there is no place for Jon Dahl Tomasson or Jesper Gronkjaer.
Palermo centre-back Simon Kjaer has also been passed fit, and he will join Daniel Agger at the heart of Denmark’s defence.
Holland’s Arjen Robben has been ruled out with a hamstring tear he sustained during the Oranje’s recent 6-1 friendly thrashing of Hungary.
The loss of Robben will be compensated, however, by the presence of Wesley Sneijder, Rafael Van der Vaart and Robin Van Persie, who is a convincing 3/1 to score first.
The Oranje are firm 4/9 favourites to begin their World Cup campaign with a win, whereas Denmark are 6/1 outsiders to make a winning start.
The confirmed starting line-ups are:
Holland: Stekelenburg; Van der Wiel, Heitinga, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst (Captain); De Jong, Van Bommel; Kuyt, Sneijder, Van der Vaart; Van Persie
Denmark: Sorensen; Jacobsen, Kjaer, Agger, S.B. Poulsen; Jorgensen (Captain), C Poulsen, Kahlenberg, Rommedahl, Enevoldsen; Bendtner
See the full Holland vs Denmark market
