Nordic neighbours renew acquaintances

Having twice lost to Denmark in qualifying for UEFA EURO 2008, Iceland will be anxious for a better outcome when they tackle their Nordic counterparts again in qualifying Group H.

Team news
• With Nicklas Bendtner sidelined because of an ongoing groin problem, Morten Olsen's main selection dilemma is which of Nicklas Pedersen and Mads Junker will lead the line in Denmark's first match of the campaign.

• Christian Poulsen will captain the side after being appointed skipper in place of Jon Dahl Tomasson, who retired from international football last month. "I'm prepared to take on the responsibility which comes with this job," said the Liverpool FC midfielder. Goalkeeper Stephan Andersen, meanwhile, has withdrawn because of a shoulder problem.

• Denmark squad
 Goalkeepers: Thomas Sørensen (Stoke City FC), Anders Lindegaard (Aalesunds FK)
 Defenders: Daniel Agger (Liverpool FC), Lars Jacobsen (Blackburn Rovers FC), Leon Jessen (1. FC Kaiserslautern), Per Krøldrup (AFC Fiorentina), Simon Kjær (VfL Wolfsburg), William Kvist (FC København)
 Midfielders: Christian Poulsen (Liverpool FC), Christian Eriksen (AFC Ajax), Johnny Thomsen (SønderjyskE), Martin Vingaard (FC København), Michael Silberbauer (FC Utrecht), Thomas Enevoldsen (FC Groningen), Thomas Kahlenberg (VfL Wolfsburg)
 Forwards: Dennis Rommedahl (Olympiacos FC), Kasper Lorentzen (Randers FC), Lasse Schøne (NEC Nijmegen), Mads Junker (Roda JC), Michael Krohn-Dehli (Brøndby IF), Morten Skoubo (Roda JC), Nicklas Pedersen (FC Groningen)

• Grétar Rafn Steinsson is a doubt due to a knee injury sustained late on in the 2-1 home defeat by Norway on Friday. Heidar Helguson gave Iceland the lead in Reykjavik before the visitors hit back after the break through Brede Hangeland and Mohammed Abdellaoue. "We were good in first half but very bad in the early part of the second half," said coach Ólafur Jóhanneson.

• Iceland squad
Goalkeepers: Arni Gautur Arason (Odd Grenland), Gunnleifur Gunnleifsson (FH Hafnarfjördur), Ingvar Thór Kale (Breidablik)
Defenders: Indridi Sigurdsson (Viking FK), Kristján Örn Sigurdsson, (Hønefoss BK), Grétar Rafn Steinsson (Bolton Wanderers FC), Bjarni Ólafur Eiríksson (Stabæk Fotball), Ragnar Sigurdsson (IFK Göteborg), Sölvi Geir Ottesen (FC København), Arnór Sveinn Adalsteinsson (Breidablik)
Midfielders: Brynjar Björn Gunnarsson (Reading FC), Aron Einar Gunnarsson (Coventry City FC), Ólafur Ingi Skúlason (Sønderjysk E), Rúrik Gíslason (Odense BK), Jóhann Berg Gudmundsson (AZ Alkmaar), Matthías Vilhjálmsson (FH Hafnarfjördur), Eggert Gunnthór Jónsson (Heart of Midlothian FC), Birkir Bjarnason (Viking FK), Gylfi Thór Sigurdsson (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim)
Forwards: Heidar Helguson (Queens Park Rangers FC), Veigar Páll Gunnarsson (Stabæk Fotball), Kolbeinn Sigthórsson (AZ Alkmaar)

Match background
• Denmark's record in 17 matches against Iceland reads W14 D3 L0 (W8 D0 L0 at home).

• The first of Iceland's UEFA EURO 2008 qualifying defeats came on 6 September 2006, when goals from Dennis Rommedahl and Jon Dahl Tomasson earned Denmark a 2-0 win in Reykjavik. The latter also scored the second as Morten Olsen's men triumphed 3-0 in the return on 21 November 2007.

• Denmark enjoyed an even more resounding success en route to the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals, triumphing 6-0 in Copenhagen on 6 October 2001 having won the away encounter 2-1.

• Prior to those competitive outings, the nations contested 13 friendlies, with Denmark's dominance at its fullest when they prevailed 14-2 in Copenhagen on 23 August 1967. Denmark have also won friendlies 6-2, 5-2 and 5-1.