Friendly preview: England v Denmark

Midfielder Frank Lampard looks set to be handed the captain’s armband for England for the first time in their friendly against Denmark.

With skipper Rio Ferdinand ruled out of Wednesday’s match because of a calf injury and regular deputy Steven Gerrard a late withdrawal because of a groin strain, Fabio Capello is expected to name Lampard as his captain for the friendly in Copenhagen.

Gerrard was one of four members of Capello’s original 25-man squad who were ruled out, along with Peter Crouch, Ben Foster and Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Gerrard, Crouch and Foster all reported to the team’s training camp but were sent home after completing fitness checks, while Agbonlahor opted out of the squad for personal reasons.

West Ham duo Robert Green and Carlton Cole have been called up as replacements.

England are winless in their last two matches and will see Wednesday’s match as vital preparation for their Euro 2012 qualifier against Wales in March, with Capello expecting a solid hitout against the Danes.

“It will be really important the next game against Denmark, because they are a good team, I watched the last two games they played,” Capello said.

“When they play at home it’s a really difficult game. They are really dangerous at set-pieces.”

“They play a style like Arsenal, or a Spanish style, a lot of short passes and they are really compact. It will be a really interesting game for us and some players who will play the game from the start.”

England are currently second in Euro 2012 qualifying Group G, three point behind top side Montenegro with a game in hand.

The selection of veteran goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen is the big poser for Denmark manager Morten Olsen, with the Stoke City custodian likely to be usurped for the number one position by rising star Anders Lindegaard.

Sorensen and Lindegaard shared the goalkeeping duties for Denmark’s last two Euro 2012 qualifiers in October. But with the 34-year-old out of favour at Stoke, it could be Manchester United back-up Lindegaard who gets the chance to stake his claim against England.

The Danes drew 1-1 in a friendly with the Czech Republic in their last match in November and are currently third in Group C of Euro 2012 qualifying, behind Norway and Portugal.

Wednesday’s friendly with England is the last chance coach Morten Olsen has to assess his side before their next qualifier, against Norway, on March 26.