The World Cup fates of Denmark and Japan could hinge on whether Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner is fit to take to the field in their final Group E meeting on Thursday.

Bendtner has been bothered by a lingering groin injury and Denmark coach Morten Olsen said the forward is "doubtful" for the match and that he would make a decision before the match.

"Every other day he doesn't participate in practice and when he plays, then we see how he is," Olsen said. "There's always a doubt with an injury like that, so we have to wait and see."

Bendtner participated in a special warmup with two other players at the beginning of Wednesday night's training, but joined up with the rest of the squad for running drills and ball work.

Japan coach Takeshi Okada has identified Bendtner as the main threat to his team and has been drilling his players on how to shut down the Arsenal striker.

"I think Bendtner will be the key man in their attack," Okada said. "They will fight under his lead."

The match will determine the final team from Group E to advance to the next round. Japan needs at least a draw, while Denmark must win in order to reach the round of 16. Both teams have three points from two matches, but Japan has a better goal difference.

The Netherlands has already advanced and has six points, while Cameroon was eliminated from the tournament Saturday after Denmark beat the African team 2-1.

Denmark defender Per Kroldrup and attacking midfielder Jesper Gronkjaer suggested the team could use their height advantage to beat a considerably smaller Japan.

"Perhaps we are stronger than the Japanese in the air," Kroldrup said. "Hopefully we can benefit."

Gronkjaer agreed, before stopping himself: "There is something tactical there. Perhaps, I shouldn't say anymore because the coach is here."

But Olsen acknowledges that it will be tough to beat Japan, which defended well in its first two matches. Japan beat Cameroon 1-0 in its first game with a goal by midfielder Keisuke Honda, making it the team's first World Cup victory on foreign soil. Japan also defended well in its second match, but lost 1-0 to the Netherlands.

"I said before the World Cup that Japan could be one of the teams that surprises people," Olsen said. "It's really a team. It's a collective. They're fighting for each other and for their country."

Denmark was on the brink of being eliminated from the World Cup against Cameroon, going a goal down before rallying with goals from Bendtner and Dennis Rommedahl. Denmark lost its opening match to the Netherlands 2-0.

But the coach believes his players have the strength to advance.

"We have had problems with injuries, but I think the team will solve the problems we have," he said.

Olsen said midfielder Daniel Jensen won't be available, but didn't say what his injury was. He also refused to identify any other injury concerns before Thursday's match.

Defender Simon Kjaer will miss Thursday's match because of two bookings against the Netherlands and Cameroon. Captain Jon Dahl Tomasson also has had injury problems and missed the team's first match.

Okada thinks more than tactics will be needed to win the match, saying he wants Japan "to fight."

"It would be ideal if we can overwhelm the opposition by 10 goals," Okada said. "But it won't be that easy. I think it's going to be a very close, fierce match."

Japan did reach the round of 16 as co-hosts at the 2002 World Cup.

"The coach has told us that in life you only get a few opportunities to reach the knockout stages of the World Cup and told us to give it our all," captain Makoto Hasebe said.

The 26-year-old midfielder added the team "will head into the game in a positive frame of mind."

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