England can't believe their luck as they go 3-0 up

By James Dart, Sportinglife.com

Three-nil up at half-time, taking your star men off at the interval and cantering to the World Cup quarter-finals in comfort during the second period.

England aren't supposed to do it the easy way.

It's meant to end in heartbreak on penalties, or for the team to sneak through by the odd goal.

But in Niigata on Saturday night, Sven-Goran Eriksson's side booked their spot in the last eight of the finals at a canter.

Helped by the hapless Thomas Sorensen in the Danish goal, England were 1-0 up with only five minutes on the clock as the Sunderland stopper fumbled Rio Ferdinand's header over his own line.

It was a true gift from Sorensen and left television pundit and Danish goalkeeping legend Peter Schmeichel almost lost for words.

Sadly for Schmeichel and the rest of Denmark, that was as good as it got for Morten Olsen's side.

Michael Owen was at his clinical best in the 23rd minute to swivel inside the Danish box and roll the ball past Sorensen, who could do little to deny the Liverpool hitman from scoring past him for a fifth consecutive meeting.

England were cruising and Denmark had yet to register a shot in anger. All the pre-match fears about this game being a really tricky test were evaporating by the minute.

Dennis Rommedahl fired in a warning shot midway through the half as he shot wide of David Seaman's goal from 12 yards out and with it went Denmark's World Cup dream.

Because England were to punish them barely a minute from the interval when Emile Heskey, so often in the firing line for his international performances, met a David Beckham pass on the edge of the Danish penalty area.

Heskey struck his shot with power, but Sorensen should again have done better as the ball squirmed agonisingly underneath his body and into the back of the net.

England were in dreamland and as the team strode off the field at the sound of the half-time whistle, a look at the scoreboard provided memories of that glorious night in Munich when Germany were put to the sword 5-1.

"We want four," chanted the England fans, who again behaved themselves impeccably on the sport's biggest stage.

But Eriksson's charges were never going to need to add to the scoresheet as the disappointing Danes continued to stutter during the second period.

Led by Thomas Gravesen, Denmark continued to push on in the search of a goal, but they always came up short in the final third of the field.

England were in cruise control, even able to take off Owen - later discovered to have a minor groin injury - and Paul Scholes, bringing Robbie Fowler and Kieron Dyer onto the field for some vital competitive action.

But their absence from the field was barely noticed by the 8,000 or so England fans inside the Big Swan stadium, who happily danced the conga to kickstart a party that will go on long into the Niigata night.

So, how good were England? Are they world beaters now?

Well, this was a performance based on competency and efficiency, rather than the passion and pure excitement of that hard-fought win over Argentina.

But England were helped by a nervy and inept Danish team, who combined poor defending and goalkeeping with simple inaccuracy in front of goal.

After seeing them beat reigning champions France and top Group A, I had expected much more from the Danes.

The scoreline did flatter England a little, though, and it is important that the growing euphoria surrounding the team is not taken over the top.

England did give the Danes chances and a better team would have punished them.

But they didn't, and England are in the quarter-finals for the first time since 1990.

Who awaits them in Shizuoka next Friday morning?

Probably Brazil, which would set up the most mouthwatering of quarter-finals, but after all the shocks and surprises we've seen so far, who can guarantee their safe negotiation of Belgium on Monday?

Whoever advances from that match, England will have the advantage of two days' extra rest ahead of the last-eight encounter.

And this time could prove crucial in the recuperation of Owen and the rest of the team as they prepare for a game that will be played in roasting mid-afternoon conditions.

If it's the boys from Brazil who line up against England then it could spell the end of the road.

But with the team now just three victories away from lifting the most prestigious prize in the sport, anything can happen, and England's confidence will be sky high.

For now, though, England can savour the moment, both amongst the squad and for fans around the world.

"We have given the fans a nice weekend and that is good," said Eriksson as he spoke after the game.

Very good it will be, Sven. It would be even sweeter if you could do the same next week as well.

***

I knew after writing of how this had been the one of the most entertaining finals in World Cup history that I was tempting fate.

And anyone who got up early on Saturday morning to see Germany edge past Paraguay 1-0 in the worst game of the tournament so far will probably urge me to keep my mouth shut from now on.

It was dire, it was drab and it really lacked atmosphere inside the ground in Seogwipo.

Most importantly for their rivals, though, Germany looked very poor. Memories of their 8-0 destruction of Saudi Arabia a very distant memory.

Some may say that the draw is opening up for them with the USA or Mexico in the quarters, but Javier Aguirre's Mexican team looks as good a team as any in that part of the draw.

Should they overcome their neighbours and set up a meeting with the Germans, another of the pre-tournament favourites could well be on the plane home.

Especially if they play like they did today.

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