Gronkjaer (right) opened the scoring for Denmark

By PA Sport Staff

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Jesper Gronkjaer was instrumental as Denmark edged out Tunisia 2-1 in their final warm-up game before the World Cup.

The left winger opened the scoring after 16 minutes before setting up prolific Schalke striker Ebbe Sand for the winner in the second half.

Ziad Jaziri had equalised for Tunisia on the hour mark but parity lasted just six minutes before Sand struck.

Led by Gronkjaer, Denmark picked up a morale-boosting victory but coach Morten Olsen's fears that the weather in the Far East could undermine his side's World Cup chances will not have been eased.

Olsen has repeatedly stated that the heat in Japan could prove their biggest opponent, and the Danish team struggled somewhat in the sweltering conditions.

The deadlock was broken early on as Gronkjaer received a return pass from AC Milan-bound striker Jon Dahl Tomasson, raced into the area from the left before firing a low shot into the far corner of the net.

Once ahead, the Danes slowed the game down in order to preserve some energy in the afternoon sun.

But a number of defensive errors almost let Tunisia back in the game and the Africans could well have been level at the break had it not been for the performance of Denmark goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.

The Sunderland stopper had no chance 15 minutes into the second half though as Jaziri turned a cross into the bottom corner to draw Tunisia level.

Soon after however the Europeans were back in the ascendency as an unmarked Sand headed home from eight yards following a cross from Chelsea star Gronkjaer.

The remainder of the match was punctuated by substitutions and, with the Danish players wilting in the heat, Tunisia can count themselves unfortunate not to have taken anything from the game.

They had a number of chances to equalise for a second time but a wavering Danish defence managed to do enough.

Denmark's opening game is against Uruguay on June 1 in Ulsan.

Danish coach Morten Olsen was not satisfied with the win.

He said: "We need to improve and we have a lot we need to talk about.

"We played well in the first half but I don't think we were well-enough organised.

"We created some good chances but we also lost the ball too easily and too early.

"However the game was very important for us and now we have just less than a week to get everything into place."

Gronkjaer added: "We can certainly play better. We have a week to work some more and we know now what the conditions are like.

"It was very warm despite the wind, so I'm slightly worried about the matches in Korea."