Considering the opposition it will face next month at the European Championship, it's clear why Denmark would pick one of the top teams in the world for one of its buildup matches.
Denmark probably wishes Brazil could have shown up with an even stronger squad for Saturday's friendly in Hamburg.
''We are happy to play Brazil, we picked them specifically to prepare for the European Championship because they are very strong technically and we want to measure ourselves against them,'' Denmark coach Morten Olsen said on Friday.
''It's good for us to be put under pressure,'' he said.
The Hamburg venue will allow local fans to have a close look at one of the teams Germany will face at Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine.
The toughest group of the tournament also includes the Netherlands and Portugal. Of the four teams, Denmark has the lowest ranking at No. 10.
''Our goal is to advance from the group and we can do it,'' Olsen said.
Denmark opens its campaign against the Netherlands on June 9 and Olsen said the focus was on that match, not Saturday's friendly.
''It's a test match for us and the important game is against the Netherlands. But we want to play a good match and give our fans something to cheer about,'' Olsen said. ''And it will help us correct our mistakes.''
About 40,000 Danish fans are expected to cross the border and come to Hamburg to watch their team.
No. 6-ranked Brazil is without some of its top young stars, notably striker Neymar, who has club commitments back home.
The five-time World Cup champion is building up for the London Olympics, the only significant competition it has never won, so the match in Hamburg is not without importance for Brazil either.
''It's a young team, much younger than the opponent, the goal is to build for the London Olympics and for the 2014 World Cup at home,'' Brazil coach Mano Menezes said.
Neymar's Santos teammates, goalkeeper Rafael and playmaker Paulo Henrique Ganso, will also miss the friendly.
Ganso is out because of knee surgery, but Neymar and Rafael are expected to join the Brazilian squad for friendlies against the United States on May 30, Mexico on June 3 and Argentina on June 9. The matches will be played in the United States.
Brazil has called up Manchester United right back Rafael to replace the injured Daniel Alves for the upcoming friendlies.
Alves broke his collarbone while practicing with Barcelona.
The last time Denmark played Brazil was at the 1998 World Cup in France, when Denmark reached the quarterfinals before losing to the Brazilians.
Denmark has been in training camp since May 17 and Olsen said he intends to use most of his players against Brazil.
Denmark's volatile star, Sunderland striker Nicklas Bendtner, is one player in Olson's squad who could prove to be the difference.
Veteran winger Dennis Rommedahl had an outstanding World Cup two years ago in South Africa but at 38, he is nearing the end of his career and nursing a thigh injury.
Denmark is seeking inspiration from its stunning 1992 success, when it won the European title as a late replacement for war-torn Yugoslavia, assembling players from their beach vacations.
