Joy for England. Now for Brazil

By Frank Malley, PA Chief Sports Writer, Niigata

The euphoria came in huge enveloping waves. Mad, crazy congas formed high up in the stands, flags of St George fluttered jauntily.

"Let's all have a disco," chanted the England fans endlessly and raucously and on the Richter scale of footballing partying in this land of earthquakes and monsoons this was a good nine. Maybe even more.

It was almost as good as it gets in fact as England beat Denmark 3-0 on a night of swirling emotion and ecstatic celebration which eclipsed even the 'Football's Coming Home' days of Euro 96.

But, as the man who hands out millions, might say: We don't want to give you that. We want to give you much, much more.

And for the first time since this intriguing World Cup began with the inspiring story of little Senegal beating champions France there is genuine hope that England truly can go all the way.

The tingle of anticipation in the cool night air contained more than a hint of that golden trophy.

And so it should. Argentina have been dispatched, France and Portugal have fallen, Italy cling to their illustrious past by the slenderest of threads, Germany pound on steady but seemingly sterile.

Just one huge challenge awaits. And if that comes almost certainly in the thrilling yellow shirts of Brazil then the greatest prizes almost always require one huge, cataclysmic effort.

The Brazilians, of course, still must see off Belgium on Monday to set up an historic quarter-final encounter with England but no-one, apart possibly from those who insist the earth is flat, would bet against that.

After a night of precision English striking and, if the truth be told, dreadful Danish defending, the prospect is enough to conjure up all sorts of nostalgic memories and intriguing possibilities.

England last played Brazil in a competitive match 32 years ago - the year the legendary Pele and Bobby Moore swapped shirts and embraced after one of the great World Cup matches.

The year the 1970 Brazilians, the greatest football team the planet has witnessed, coated the 'Beautiful Game' in its brightest hue.

As it happens Sir Alf Ramsey's men lost that match 1-0 but there is a confidence and belief emanating from Eriksson's side which suggests that even Ronaldo and co, as good as they have looked so far, will fear an encounter with David Beckham, Michael Owen and the rest of England's surging side.

Critics, among them Liverpool's Gerard Houllier, have intimated that England are too young, too naive to win this tournament.

Well, there was nothing callow about their performance tonight. Rather it oozed maturity and organisation.

It bore the tactical hallmark of their 'Iceman' coach. Cool, clinical, opportunist and ruthless in its execution.

And you had to believe that if football is all about momentum then rarely has the force been so full square behind the Three Lions.

That is why as England's fans trooped raucously into the Niigata night, taunting the Danes and wallowing in the wonder of Japanese smiles and cheers from girls wearing the number seven shirt of David Beckham and the number 10 of Michael Owen, they were daring to believe that this was England's year.

That Eriksson might just pull off the miracle required on his appointment, sweep aside 36 years of hurt and bring home the trophy.

A dodgy start against Sweden was followed by epic triumph over Argentina and if the goalless draw with Nigeria was not pretty then at least it got the job done with minimum fuss and maximum effect.

The demolition of the Danes raised the level, took a peek over the wall England must climb if they are to garner ultimate success. They proved tonight they are tall enough for the task.

Owen and Emile Heskey were razor sharp in attack, Heskey in particular justifying the faith Eriksson has shown in persevering with the Liverpool striker.

Beckham appeared fitter and more involved than the peripheral shadow which has been confined to largely set-piece roles during the last three matches.

But the real foundation for conviction in England's immediate future came from a defence which was simply immaculate.

Ashley Cole was sharp and athletic, Danny Mills combative and if the Leeds man received a yellow card for a clash with Jesper Gronkjaer then the rest of his work was superb.

But the shining star by some distance was Rio Ferdinand, a man who grows with every game and who by the end was even doing step-overs in the style of his great hero Maradona.

It was the Ferdinand influence right at the start, however, which set the tone - the Leeds man rising at the far post to head a Beckham corner into the arms of Denmark's Sunderland goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, who somehow fumbled the ball into his own net.

Pretty soon we were wondering quite how this Denmark side had beaten France 2-0 to reach this knockout stage. On this shocking display that result was a candidate for the eighth wonder of the world.

Everton's Thomas Gravesen made another howler in the Danish defence after 22 minutes, Owen was on hand to slip the ball left-footed past Sorensen from six yards for his first competitive international goal for nine months.

"Are you Scotland in disguise?" the fans chanted, a sentiment as cruel as it was inaccurate. Because at times Denmark were much worse than anything even the Scots have produced in their tortuous World Cup history.

Another mistake, this time by Niclas Jensen, let in Heskey for the third after 44 minutes and the match was over as a contest. Three gifts in one Danish wrapper.

At the end the only slight concerns were a groin strain which saw Owen depart at half-time for Robbie Fowler and an ankle injury for Paul Scholes who was replaced by Kieron Dyer.

But try stopping them playing against Brazil.

Forget the earthquake which struck these parts yesterday and the Pacific weather which coated this match in a monsoon downpour.

The World Cup outlook could not look brighter for England.