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Lars Sondergaard said the pressure is on co-hosts Australia in front of a packed house.
Denmark have reached the last 16 for the first time in 28 years after securing a 2-0 win over debutants Haiti to take second place in Group D behind England.
They will face Australia in front of a partisan sellout crowd in Sydney tonight, but Sondergaard said: “Anything can be decided in those kinds of cup games, anything can happen.
“We have a pretty good defence, we have a player like Pernille (Harder) who can decide games.
“So we have a pretty good chance. We know it is going to be difficult but we are looking forward to the game. We are going to see it as a fantastic experience.
“The whole nation are standing behind them. That’s important for them, but it could also be pressure when the game goes into the second half and it’s still 0-0, and anything can happen.”
Forget any celebration plans for the Matildas – it’s Denmark who will be having its own ‘party’ after knocking the hosts out, according to Sondergaard, whose team has no intention of exiting the tournament at the round-of-16 stage at Stadium Australia.
“We’re going to have our own party if we succeed in ruining a party, and that part is fine for me,” Sondergaard said.
“Of course it’s going to be a difficult game but we see chances, and we’re living in this dream and we want to continue living there as long as possible, even until the final day of the tournament.
“As a small country as well, we’re used to being underdogs when we play against the big nations.
“Australia as a home team with a lot of spectators behind them could be said to be favourites and we’re fine with it.
“We want to surprise against them, and we also think – that’s the most important thing – that we can do it.”
Skipper Harder, the undoubted star of the Denmark team and whose first-half penalty put them on the way to victory over Haiti, said her side will not settle for merely reaching the last 16.
“I’m so proud of the girls, proud of the team that we made it through the group stages,” said the Bayern Munich attacker.
“It’s a long time since a Danish team did that at the World Cup so I couldn’t be more proud for the hard work that we put in and I am also excited for the next game.
“It’ll be a full stadium with a lot of Australians in it, so it will be an experience for us and it’s something I’m looking forward to.”
Australia’s skipper and talismanic striker Sam Kerr is expected to return from a calf injury to make her debut at this World Cup but it remains a mystery how much time she will spend on the field.
Harder knows Kerr well, having played with her at Chelsea before her recent move to Germany.
“I’m looking forward to seeing her, but not playing against her,” she said.
Australia beat Denmark 3-1 in a friendly last year, but Tony Gustavsson’s team will be wary of the threat posed by a side that pushed European champions England hard in a 1-0 group stage loss.
Other than Kerr, Australia also have injury worries, with both striker Kyah Simon and winger Cortnee Vine to be assessed before kick-off.
Originally published as Matildas vs Denmark kick off time FIFA World Cup 2023: Sam Kerr fitness remains a mystery
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