Sand feels he needs more service to score (Allsport)
SAND PUTS GLORY BEFORE GOALS
By PA Sport Staff
Denmark's Ebbe Sand admits he will not have many
scoring chances at the World Cup unless he gets more service from his
team-mates.
The 29-year-old striker has yet to get off the mark in the tournament, while
his AC Milan-bound strike partner Jon Dahl Tomasson is among the tournament's
leading scorers with all three of Denmark's goals so far.
"I feel I'm in really good form and think that I've done okay in the matches.
But unfortunately I've not had many chances come my way," Sand told Danish
newspaper B.T.
"I really rely on play coming down the flanks because I have to stay in the
middle to suit our playing style. But when we come under pressure our wingers
and Jon (Dahl Tomasson) are forced back and I'm left alone up front. There's not
a lot to work with at the moment."
But while Sand is hungry for goals, he insisted that success for the team was
more important than his own personal glory.
"Obviously it's important for a striker to continually get chances, but not
as much as progressing in the tournament as a whole," he added.
"My expectations before the World Cup were to progress and that is what we're
close to doing. It's not about who scores the goals. So far it's been Jon who
has had the chances and that's just how it goes sometimes."
Sand is also confident Denmark will get the necessary result against France to
advance from the group stage for the second successive World Cup.
"I'm sure that we're not going to lose to France by two goals, and that we'll
progress," he said.
A win or a draw for Denmark would eliminate France, making them the first
reigning World Champions to be eliminated in the first phase since Brazil in
1966.
"It could be really thrilling to knock the French out," claimed Sand.
"Nobody would have guessed that could be the case. It says a lot about our
group, that after two games France have only one point and have yet to score.
"I don't think that France have much more in reserve than what we've already
seen, and so I'm convinced that we'll progress."
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