What Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand thinks of the Socceroos ahead of do-or-die clash

The coach whose team stands between the Socceroos and the next stage of the World Cup has revealed what he thinks of Australia as a side.

Denmark's coach Kasper Hjulmand. Picture: Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP

Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand has revealed what he thinks of the Socceroos ahead of their do-or-die World Cup match on Thursday morning.

Denmark came to Qatar with high hopes, but is on just one point going into the final group game after an opening draw against Tunisia and a loss to France.

It means Denmark – ranked number 10 in the world – needs a win against the Socceroos, while a draw should be enough for Australia unless Tunisia upsets the French, who are the reigning world champions.

Australia sits on three points after a 1-0 win against Tunisia followed a 4-1 loss to France.

Hjulmand has revealed what he expects from Australia in the game that kicks off at 2am (AEDT) on Thursday.

“I expect as always a great collective that has qualities,” Hjulmand said about the Socceroos.

“They have strengths in their team, but it’s mostly as a team. They’re a team that works well together and that’s what I see.

“They’re a well organised football team – they attack together, they defend together.”

Denmark's coach Kasper Hjulmand. Picture: Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP

Denmark and Australia both lost to France. Picture: Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

Australia and Denmark played out a 1-1 draw when the teams met at the 2018 World Cup, with the same result being enough for the Socceroos this time.

“We met them four years ago, it was a tight game, it was a draw. We expect another tight game,” said Hjulmand.

He said Australia wouldn’t come out trying to play for a draw.

“They don’t really know if they progress with a draw so they will come out very strong,” he said.

“They will have periods when they put pressure on us, we expect them to run at us and attack.”

He said the “toughest thing in football” was breaking down a defensive unit like Australia’s.

The Dane admits he doesn’t have the “brain capacity” to work out what result will get them through if France is struggling against Tunisia in the other game played at the same time.

He said the other result wouldn’t matter for the first 60-70 minutes, but his attention would turn to the France-Tunisia game for the final minutes.

Australia's coach Graham Arnold. Picture: Chandan Khanna/AFP

The Socceroos managed a tight win against Tunisia. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

“We’ll be monitoring the (other) match for sure,” he said.

“We’ll find out if we need to put on more pressure, let’s say we’re leading 1-0 and it’s not enough, we’ll put on more pressure.”

But Socceroos coach Graham Arnold said his side wasn’t too focused on Denmark.

“We can only do so much and worry about them, the focus has to be on ourselves,” he said.

“They can play two systems, they can play a 3-4-3 or a 4-3-3 so we’ve got to prepare for both tactically, but it’s about getting our game right.”