DENMARK will need to improve their desperate pre-World Cup form to avoid being the victims of another upset by dark horses Saudi Arabia. That's the warning from Chelsea's new signing from Glasgow Rangers, Brian Laudrup. The Danes go to Lens in northern France with one of the worst warm-up records of any of the 32 countries in the competition. They lost at home to fellow finalists Norway and Cameroon, and were thrashed 3-0 in Sweden. Now the Saudis are set to embarrass them further. Danish forward Laudrup, his move to the Bridge now finalised following contractual problems, said: We know we will have to play better than we have done. Our form has been appalling. That is not open to debate. But we're quietly confident we can turn things around and do the business. Four years ago, when Denmark failed to qualify, the Saudis reached the second round after upsetting Belgium with a goal by Saeed Al-Owairan that is rated as one of the best ever at the finals; a solo effort likely to be unrivalled in this tournament too. The man is back again, with his head shaven in Ronaldo-style, to try and add to his reputation created by his weaving run on goals at USA '94. His strike partnership with Sami Al-Jaber is well tested and Danish coach Bo Johansson is quick to acknowledge their very real threat. Johansson said: They have good technique, are quick and well-organised. If you think they are going to sit back and defend then you'll be surprised. Keeper Peter Schmeichel believes it is important that the Danes get off to a winning start against Saudi and confesses: It's a crucial match for us. We don't want to go into the final match against France needing to win." Schmeichel promised that Denmark would be a different team to the one which lost to Cameroon last week. ''We all made mistakes, without exception,'' he said. ''But those careless errors were all due to the hard training we were doing at the time." The Saudis are fast, fit and talented and gave England a scare last month in a goalless draw in a Wembley friendly. They are quietly confident despite a 6-0 thrashing by Norway - their only recent defeat. The Saudis also have some World Cup pedigree as Carlos Alberto Parreira, the Brazilian who steered his own country to the cup in 1994, leads them. Predictably, Parreira's side is exciting going forward but suspect in defence. Midfielder Al-Owairan, striker Al-Jaber and main goalscorer Fahad Al-Mehallel will be the dangerman. But defenders Ahmad Madani and Mohammed Al-Khilaiwi have been disappointing, although the Saudis have a world-class goalkeeper in the athletic Mohammed Al-Deayea. Michael Laudrup the only player left from Denmark's last World Cup foray in 1986 will win his 100th cap. Probable teams: Denmark: Schmeichel; Schjonberg, Rieper, Hogh, Colding, Helveg, Joergensen, Nielsen, M Laudrup, Sand, B Laudrup. Saudi Arabia: Al-Deayea, Al-Jahani, Al-Khilaiwi, Zubramawi, Al-Sharani, Amin, Sulimani, Al-Owairan, Al-Muwallid, Al-Mehallel, Al-Jaber.

BULGARIA v PARAGUAY A BRUTAL BATTLE   BULGARIA coach Hristo Bonev has warned his players they could face a brutal battle against Paraguay's tough guys in the Group D opener in Montpellier. The World Cup so far has been red card free with the games being played in good spirit. But all that could be about to end. Bonev said: We know that Paraguay play a very tough if not brutal game. We've been practising some hard tackling because we want our players to get up quicker than the Paraguayans. Bulgaria were surprise semi-finalists in 1994 and striker Hristo Stoichkov will again be a threat after reclaiming his place by healing a rift with Bonev with a big bouquet of flowers. Stoichkov was joint top scorer in USA '94 and believes he can breach Paraguay's defence. He said: There are weak links in the Paraguayan team. We all know how to get to their goal quickly. Goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert is Paraguay's biggest star and one of their main goalscoring threats aswell. Chilavert takes free-kicks and penalties and, with 40 career goals, bookies were offering odds of 1,000-1 of him finishing as the tournament's top scorer. But the odds are much shorter on him becoming the first keeper to score in the finals. However, Paraguay's problems lie in attack with Sporting Lisbon striker Cesar Ramirez and Jose Cardozo failing to provide much of a cutting edge. Paraguay lost four matches in a European warm-up tour including a 5-1 thrashing by Holland and the defeats have done little to improve their reputation as Latin American outsiders in a strong group which also includes Spain and Nigeria. But Paraguay coach, Brazilian-born Paulo Cesar Carpegiani said: The recent results have not affected us and most importantly we understand each other well and we work hard as a unit. Probable teams: Bulgaria: Zdrakov, Kishishev, Ivanov, Petkov, Yordanov, Yankov, Kostadinov, Stoichkov, Balakov, Iliev, Stoilov. Paraguay: Chilavert, Arce, Ayala, Rivarola, Caniza, Acuna, Aguilera, Benitez, Enciso, Cardozo, Ramirez.

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