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Posted at 6:29 a.m., Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Soccer: Spying, suspension, now typhoon hits Denmark

By Scott McDonald
Associated Press

HANGZHOU, China — After the storm comes Brazil.

Denmark, which has had to deal with a spying controversy, the suspension of its coach and now a storm at the women's World Cup, faces an in-form Brazil on Thursday with a win probably needed to advance to the quarterfinals from Group D.

The game has been pushed back one day because a typhoon was expected to lash China's east coast on Wednesday,

"I don't think the weather will affect our match," said Denmark coach Kenneth Heiner-Moller.

Heiner-Moller will have to sit in the stands after being suspended by FIFA for coming into "physical contact" with a referee during the opening match against China.

It was one of a number of disruptions for Denmark, including finding two men with a video camera hiding behind a two-way mirror as the team was preparing for a tactical meeting at its hotel ahead of its opening game in Wuhan.

FIFA, soccer's world governing body which is organizing the World Cup, said it had investigated and found the men were not connected to any other teams, and announced the case was closed.

Danish officials said they will pursue the case after the World Cup is over.

The latest hiccup is Typhoon Wipha, which may confine the team to its hotel on Wednesday as it passes over the area and nearby Shanghai.

But Heiner-Moller said his players, including captain Katrine Pedersen who will earn a Danish record 130th cap, had not been upset by the distractions.

"With all these things that have happened ... and now a typhoon, it's kind of absurd, but I have the feeling that these players have been looking forward to this World Cup for so long that nothing can get them off focus," he said.

I am a proud coach on behalf of this team."

Denmark faces an uphill battle to reach the quarterfinals. The Danes can advance if they beat Brazil and China wins by fewer than five goals. A draw will also do if China loses to New Zealand, the weakest team in Group D.

Brazil scored nine goals and allowed none in winning its first two games in the group.

Wipha should hit the coast not far from Hangzhou early Wednesday. Shanghai closed schools and 1.6 million people were evacuated from coastal areas in anticipation of the typhoon's arrival. It is forecast to be the most powerful storm to hit the region in a decade.

If Brazil tops Group D, it will probably face Australia or Canada in the quarterfinals in Tianjin on Sept. 23. Those two teams play Wednesday with Australia needing only a draw to grab second place in Group C.

If Denamrk were to edge by China and finish second in the group, it would play the winner of Group C — likely Norway — on Sept. 23 in Wuhan.

The final is Sept. 30 in Shanghai.