By Thomas Berndt

Teams who reach the semi finals at Euro 2002 will play as much as eight matches in ten days. This is exhausting for the players.

'It has been exhausting. It has been like this for all the teams. But I must say it has not been as obvious on the Danish team as on any of the others,' says Gorm Rasmussen, physiotherapist for the Danish team. He explains the Danish reserves of energy with, among other things, a wide variety of talents on the team and sensible replacements during the matches.

But the preparations before the tournament are just as important.

'A good basic physical condition and being prepared are key elements to a tournament like this one', says the physiotherapist. And then we have the Danish league, which gives the girls extra strength.

'The Danish team has the advantage of playing in the best league in the world. At the Euro 2002 the players will not be put in situations they have not been in before', says Gorm Rasmussen.