The Chelsea player had to be separated from Bolton’s Tofting after failing to see the funny side of a prank.

Tofting and his midfield partner Thomas Gravesen sprayed Gronkjaer with water and put ice down his shorts but Gronkjaer took exception to the fun and games after hurting his eye. After receiving treatment from the Danish team doctor he marched towards Tofting, the hard man of the squad, and the two players began scuffling.

A Danish team spokesman said yesterday that the scuffle had been a minor incident and that there was no problem between any of the players in the squad.

Last Thursday, Swedish players Fredrik Ljungberg and Olog Mell-berg were involved in a similar clash after tempers frayed in Miyazaki.

Of more concern to coach Morten Olsen is the fitness of defender Rene Henriksen ahead of their opening group A game against Uruguay on Saturday. The Panathinaikos centre-back picked up a knock in Sunday’s 2-1 warm-up victory over Tunisia and sat out training on Monday and Tuesday as a precaution.

Strikers Ebbe Sand and Peter Lovenkrands also missed Tuesday’s sessions but Olsen expects all three to be fit for selection for Saturday’s game in Ulsan. Midfielder Martin Jorgensen, who missed the Tunisia game with a thigh strain, trained on Tuesday and Olsen said he was fit.

With France, who play Senegal tomorrow, overwhelming favourites to win the group, Saturday’s game could prove decisive over who finishes second.

"We can only pray for a repeat of 1986,” said the coach, in reference to his side’s stunning 6-1 first round victory in the Mexico World Cup.

"But we must do much better than in Sunday’s game against Tunisia if we want to have a chance at this World Cup."