World Cup 2010 / Richard Aikman / 13 October 2009 / Leave a comment

Denmark should make short work of Hungary at the Parken Stadium on Wednesday night - even though they have already qualified for the World Cup, writes Richard Aikman

"With the pressure off Denmark and nothing to lose for Hungary, over 2.5 goals is the way forward @ [1.96]."

Denmark booked their place in the World Cup for only the fourth time with a memorable 1-0 win over Scandinavian rivals Sweden at the weekend as Jakob Poulsen's 79th-minute strike proved decisive. It was the Danes' second group win over Sweden, who now find themselves in danger of missing out on the trip to South Africa next summer as they slipped a point behind second-placed Portugal.

It has been an impressive qualification from Martin Olsen's side, who have remained unbeaten in one of the toughest World Cup groups of them all, thanks to a squad which has successfully melded emerging talents such as Palermo defender Simon Kjaer and Nicklas Bendtner of Arsenal with old heads such as Dennis Rommedahl, Martin Jorgensen and Jon Dahl Tomasson.

There is, of course, always the danger that with qualification secured complacency can set in. As we saw in the case of England on Saturday night, it is sometimes difficult for players to raise their game in matches that are essentially dead rubbers, but Denmark are a proud side. Few observers expected them to qualify as winners of this group and Olsen's men will be looking to finish with a flourish now that the pressure is off.

Hungary are no Ukraine, and their 3-0 defeat to Portugal has ended any World Cup hopes that might have been lingering. A win over Denmark would leave Edwin Koeman's side with 16 points, level with Portugal, but then they would need Sweden to lose to Albania and Portugal to suffer a heavy defeat to pointless Malta in their final matches - an impossible scenario even if Carlos Queiroz' side will be without the injured Cristiano Ronaldo.

After a promising start to the campaign that began with a goalless draw with Denmark, and which reaped wins home and away against Malta and Albania, Koeman's men suffered narrow defeats (both 2-1) to Sweden before back-to-back defeats to Portugal (1-0 and 3-0) finished them off.

Bendtner is improving with every match he plays and he will be determined to add to the three goals he has scored so far this campaign, while top-scorer Soren Larsen, with five, will expect to add to his tally in midweek.

With the pressure off Denmark and nothing to lose for Hungary, over 2.5 goals is the way forward here as Denmark complete their campaign with a perfect 10 victories.

Recommended bets:

Denmark to beat Hungary @ [1.44]
Back over 2.5 goals @ [1.96]

Tags: Cristiano Ronaldo, Denmark, Hungray, Portugal, Sweden, World Cup football betting odds