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Group C - S.Arabia-Denmark, Rieper header grim for Saudis |
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Former European champion Denmark began its World Cup group C campaign with a 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia on Friday thanks to a rare goal from defender Marc Rieper.
Denmark dominated a disappointing match but looked set to endure a frustrating evening until Rieper found himself unmarked some six meters out and headed home a cross from Brian Laudrup in the 68th minute.
Coached by Carlos Alberto Parreira, the man who led Brazil to their 1994 World Cup success, Saudi Arabia can have no complaints after a defensive-minded performance in which it seldom troubled giant Danish goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel.
Schmeichel did make one good save, plunging to his right to push aside a free kick from Saudi attacker Saeed Al-Owairan just before halftime.
But that was a rare spark from the Saudis, who upset Morocco and Belgium in 1994 before going out in the second round.
Denmark, European champion in 1992 but appearing in only its second World Cup finals, plays South Africa in Toulouse next Thursday before completing its group fixtures against host France.
Saudi Arabia meets France on June 18 and then plays South Africa.
The winner was only the second goal that Rieper has scored in a international career spanning 54 matches.
"I'm not really that worried about where the goals come from as long as we get the three points. I'm just as pleased that we kept a clean sheet," Rieper said.
The big man had pushed forward for a corner and stayed up when the Saudis failed to clear the danger.
Michael Laudrup, winning his 100th cap for Denmark and the last link with the country's 1986 World Cup campaign, often combined sweetly in midfield with brother Brian but the Danes, who had lost their last three matches prior to the competition, lacked a cutting edge.
Striker Ebbe Sand, a prolific scorer in Danish soccer with Brondby but inexperienced at this level, wasted a good chance in the first half and midfielder Martin Jorgensen shot straight at goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Deayea when the ball fell to him early in the second half.
Saudi coach Carlos Alberto blamed the defeat on a momentary lapse of concentration.
"Nobody likes to lose. We are down, we are disappointed but they (the players) should hold their heads up and think of the next two games," he said. "They played against a good team and they did well."
The match will not live long in the memory.
But it did give Lens the distinction of being the smallest town to host a World Cup match. The Stade Felix Bollaert holds just over 41,000 while the urban population of this northern French town is just 35,000.
The town is home to the French league champion and its passionate soccer fans will be hoping for better fare in the remaining matches here, starting with the Group H clash between Jamaica and Croatia on Sunday night.
