Jensen bolsters Denmark squad

Striker Lene Jensen has been passed fit to complete Denmark coach Kenneth Heiner-Møller's squad for UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™.

Jensen fit
A knee injury in training earlier this week had put Jensen, capped more than 100 times, in doubt for the finals, but following a fitness test on Thursday morning the 33-year-old Brøndby IF forward has been included in the 22-strong selection. Also selected is right-back Mia Brogaard, known until her recent marriage as Mia Olsen, and the squad play their last friendly on Friday against Scotland in Gladsaxe.

Newcomers included
While qualifying top scorer Merete Pedersen retired from international football earlier this year and Mariann Gajhede and Christina Ørntoft were both ruled out due to injury, Heiner-Møller has welcomed back Johanna Rasmussen, Julie Rydahl Bukh and Cathrine Paaske Sørensen from recent fitness problems. His squad also includes goalkeeper Mia Kjærsgaard-Andersen and midfielder Katrine Veje, who made their debuts in last month's trip to England when they beat Iceland 2-1 but lost 1-0 to the home nation.

Intense preparations
"Unlike our preparations for the [2007 FIFA Women's] World Cup, we have not gathered so many times, but instead we have had some very intensive get-togethers and more training sessions than before," said Heiner-Møller, whose side open Group A against hosts Finland on 23 August and then meet Ukraine and the Netherlands. "Our ambition is to win our group. We have beaten and lost against two of our opponents in the group, so it will be interesting to see which team is the strongest at the moment. There is no doubt that we have a team which can go all the way to the final, but there is also a risk that we may be knocked out in the group stage."

Denmark squad
Goalkeepers: Heidi Johansen (Fortuna Hjørring), Mia Kjærsgaard-Andersen (IK Skovbakken), Tine Cederkvist (LdB Malmö FC).

Defenders: Camilla Sand Andersen (Fortuna Hjørring), Katrine Pedersen (Stabæk FK), Line Røddik Hansen (Brøndby IF), Marianne Pedersen (IK Skovbakken), Marie Bjerg (IK Skovbakken), Mia Brogaard (Brøndby IF).

Midfielders: Cathrine Paaske Sørensen (Linköpings FC), Ditte Larsen (Brøndby IF), Janne Madsen (Fortuna Hjørring), Katrine Veje (Odense BK), Mette Jensen (Fortuna Hjørring), Nanna Christiansen (Brøndby IF), Tina Rasmussen (IK Skovbakken).

Forwards: Johanna Rasmussen (Umeå IK), Lene Jensen (Brøndby IF), Nadia Nadim (IK Skovbakken), Sanne Troelsgaard Nielsen (Brøndby IF), Maiken Pape (Stabæk FK), Julie Rydahl Bukh (Linköpings FC).