Dyer speeds past Thomas Gravesen (Allsport)

By Neal Collins

When the third goal went in before half-time, one of the lads stood up and said: "Hold it, hold it. We're all dreaming."

Which about sums up the surreal nature of the 3-0 win over Denmark.

England don't do things like that. Emile Heskey doesn't score with superb first-timers from the edge of the box. Thomas Sorensen doesn't throw the ball in his own net, even if he does earn his crust in Sunderland.

England simply don't win by three goals in World Cup finals (they've done it once before, when Gary Lineker scored a hat-trick against Portugal in 1986).

The only concrete reality we could hold on to was the sight of Michael Owen scoring the second after a lovely flick from Nicky Butt.

And even that looked offside. But, given the fantasy of the first half, the linesman didn't move a flag. Rightly so, as it turned out.

After the Rio Ferdinand opener (five minutes) and Owen's effort (22 minutes), it was Heskey's 44th minute goal which really threw reality out of the window.

And my preview, a carefully constructed defence of the big Liverpool striker, comes to mind. If I might quote from my pre-match efforts, which were written more in hope than in certainty: "It's time for Heskey and Owen do do the business. For the goals to flow. Time for England to go that extra Emile.

"Heskey will shine for England. Let's believe it."

Heskey, set up by Beckham for the goal, looked oaf-like throughout up to that point. He lashed the ball into the net after Sorensen had scored his own goal, then he muscled his way past Laursen for an early chance but Sorensen saved it. Other than that his first half consisted purely of botched passes, falling over and poor touches.

But he came good. Very good.

Like England 4, Holland 1 at Euro 96 and Germany 1, England 5 in qualifying last year, it was hard to accept a half-time scoreline of Denmark 0, England 3.

The second half was only a shadow of the first. Robbie Fowler and Kieron Dyer came on to, cheekily, give Michael Owen and Paul Scholes a rest.

There were a few chances to add goals and the not-so-great Danes had the odd chance to pull one back against the meanest defence in the world. David Seaman, right up there with American Brad Friedel as the goalkeeper of the tournament, made one fine save, Rio Ferdinand and Sol Campbell looked great.

Man of the Match? The two full backs, Ashley Cole and Danny Mills, continued their superb showing. I thought hard about Heskey. But it has to be Nicky "Nobby" Butt. Magnificent for 90 minutes.

Afterwards Sven Goran Eriksson would only say "we'll see" when he was asked to say "we'll win it".

What he wanted to say was: Bring on Belgium (or, maybe, Brazil!).  

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