Football
AAP 6y

Tim Cahill has 'chance' to feature for Australia against Denmark - Bert van Marwijk

Socceroos coach Bert van Marwijk isn't ruling out changes -- including starting Tim Cahill -- as Australia ready to face Denmark in Group C.

Van Marwijk maintains any of the 23 players in his Australian squad are a chance of starting against Denmark in Samara on Thursday.

If the Socceroos lose, they will exit Russia after the group stage regardless of the outcome of their final game against Peru next Tuesday.

Win or draw, and they'll remain a chance of advancing.

Van Marwijk is tunnel-visioned on the challenge presented by a Danish team ranked No.12 in the world. And he says the Danes are better team than world No.7 France, who pipped Australia 2-1 in the tournament opener.

"The Danish, they are a strong team," van Marwijk told reporters. "They are number 12 in the world rankings -- that says enough.

"They have a strong team, physical strong, very tall players -- that is a weapon.

"We played against France, they have I think more quality in the players and more creativity. But I think the Danish are maybe more a team."

With Australia's full-back Josh Risdon overcoming a corked hip suffered in the loss to France, Van Marwijk has a full squad to select from.

"I will not talk about changes or no changes," he said.

Pressed on whether Tim Cahill was a chance to feature after not playing against France, Van Marwijk replied: "There is always a chance for all the players."

The Danes defeated Peru 1-0 in their tournament opener to level with France in the race to get out of Group C.

And van Marwijk said the Danish team presented a different challenge than France, mainly because of their height: six of their players are 190cm or taller.

"Denmark will be a very difficult team to play against," he said. "But we get more confidence every day in the way we want to play and I think that is very important.

"We have to play exactly the same that we did against France, with all the discipline.

"And now we have to fine detail things where the Danish most have problems."

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