Denmark's Group D climb must start with New Zealand

Soccer Betting Lines

09/14/2007 - Wuhan, China (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After dropping its opener to China on a late goal, Denmark faces an uphill battle to advance out of Group D.

Denmark is ranked sixth in the world - the highest in the group - but already trails China and Brazil by three points. The Danes can take the "first step against New Zealand" on Saturday, coach Kenneth Heiner-Moller told FIFA.com.

A step that has to result in a win with Brazil awaiting in its final game of the group stage.

"The result aside, we played a great game against China and our confidence is still intact," Heiner-Moller said.

Denmark erased a two-goal deficit in the second half against the Chinese as Dot Eggers Nielsen and Cathrine Paaske Sorensen scored. China escaped with all three points thanks to a goal in the 88th minute.

Denmark should be able to put the disappointing loss behind it Saturday. New Zealand was completely dominated in a 5-0 loss to Brazil on Wednesday.

New Zealand rarely had possession of the ball in the first half, and rarely had more than one touch at a time in the second half when Brazil scored four of its goals.

Denmark proved its offense was solid in the loss to China, and that was with its top striker on the bench for the first 75 minutes of the match.

All-time leading scorer Merete Pedersen is nursing an injury, and her status for the match is questionable, but she may just get more rest and hope to be fit for the crucial Brazil match on Wednesday.

"We know that Denmark are a very well-organized side who move the ball around well and work hard up front. They will be tough opponents for sure, but we'll (be) doing everything we can to get something out of this game," New Zealand coach John Herdman told FIFA.com.

New Zealand fell to 0-4 all time in the World Cup with its loss to Brazil. The team was making its first appearance since the inaugural event in 1991.

But it's a game New Zealand has to forget. The team created almost no offense, and looked overmatched. If New Zealand is going to shed the label of the worst team in the tournament - and have any hopes of advancing - it needs a result against Denmark.

"To stay in the tournament we simply have to win and that means we'll be more attack-minded than in our first game," Herdman said.

Denmark and New Zealand have played one other time in the World Cup, a 3-0 win by the Danes in 1991.

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It's less than a month until the NHL hockey betting season opens at MySportsbook.com and preparations are underway for another battle in the race to hoist Lord Stanley's mug in 2007.

As cup crazy fans prepare to place their bets, one online sportsbook ,MySportsbook.com, is offering hockey betting lines on the 2007/2007 Stanley Cup , who will bring it home this upcoming season.

Despite a poor showing in last season's playoffs and the loss of Steve Yzerman to retirement, the Detroit Red Wings are early favourites at this online sportsbook with wagering odds of 6-1. The Wings will look to offensive powerhouse Pavel Datsyuk and newly appointed captain Nicklas Lidstrom to lead one of the league's most prominent franchises.

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