Denmark coach Morten Olsen picked 20 players Tuesday for his team's opening qualifying match for the 2014 World Cup against the Czech Republic, which will be played without the suspended Nicklas Bendtner.
Olsen's squad includes Aalborg forward Nicklas Helenius, but the coach declined to comment individual players, adding three more players will be named later. The 21-year-old striker is seen as a possible replacement for Bendtner.
Earlier Tuesday, the Danish football federation said UEFA had turned down Bendtner's appeal of a one-match ban and ?100,000 ($125,000) fine for ''improper conduct'' during the European Championship in Poland and Ukraine.
The ban rules the Arsenal striker out of the Sept. 8 match.
Bendtner was banned for a goal celebration during a group game against Portugal. After scoring his second goal of the match, the striker raised his shirt and lowered the top of his shorts to reveal the name of a betting firm, which was not an official tournament sponsor.
Olsen picked veteran defenders Simon Kjaer and Daniel Agger, midfielders William Kvist and Christian Eriksen, and forward Dennis Rommedahl. He also picked three goalkeepers, Stephan Andersen, Anders Lindegaard and Kasper Schmeichel.
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Squad:
Goalkeepers: Anders Lindegaard (Manchester United), Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester), Stephan Andersen (Evian)
Defenders: Daniel Agger (Liverpool), Daniel Wass (Evian), Jores Okore (Nordsjaelland), Lars Jacobsen (FC Copenhagen), Simon Kjaer (Wolfsburg)
Midfielders: Christian Eriksen (Ajax), Jakob Poulsen (Monaco), Kasper Lorentzen (Nordsjaelland), Nicolai Stokholm (Nordsjaelland), Niki Zimling (FC Brugge), Thomas Kristensen (FC Copenhagen), William Kvist (Stuttgart)
Forwards: Dennis Rommedahl (Brondby), Michael Krohn-Dehli (Celta Vigo), Nicklas Helenius (Aalborg), Nicolai Jorgensen (FC Copenhagen) Tobias P. Mikkelsen (Greuther Fuerth)
