Home fans will not faze Sand

At least 20,000 fans are expected in Helsinki's Olympic Stadium on Sunday when Denmark open their UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ campaign against Finland, and though all but a few hundred will be supporting the hosts, Danish midfielder Camilla Sand Andersen feels her side are well-equipped to cope with the atmosphere.

China experience
Two years ago, Denmark opened another final tournament against the home nation, facing China in front of more than 50,000 fans at the FIFA Women's World Cup. Sand sat out that game but she appeared in the other two group matches against New Zealand and Brazil in front of similarly sized crowds, and the 23-year-old believes that what she and her colleagues learned in China will come in more than a little handy on Finnish soil.

Atmosphere
"It was a great experience," the Fortuna Hjørring player recalled. "It was an atmosphere where you can't hear what you are saying to each other and I really liked that. It was really exciting. It was an experience and we can use it here too."

Steady preparations
Denmark fell in the group stage in China, as indeed they did at UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2005™ following defeat by Finland, but their results since then have been impressive, leading Sand to believe a series of intensive training camps have helped them improve. "We have been preparing and playing together for two years since the World Cup," she said. "I hope we are better prepared now and play better together. We haven't been in a rush at the last minute, like I felt we were a little at the World Cup. This time we have prepared over a period of two years and been together a lot, so it should be good."

Tactics
As for the Group A encounter itself, Sand is clear what Denmark have to do. "I think it's going to be about who can get their own play going," she said. "If we can play our own game, I think we'll win." As for the crowd, she added: "I think it is a motivating factor, that the atmosphere is so good, even though they will be against us. I'm looking forward to it."