By Frank Malley, PA Chief Sports Writer, Niigata

Danish legend Michael Laudrup threw down the challenge to England when he insisted: "We can win the World Cup."

Laudrup, part of the most famous family in Denmark's footballing history and now the nation's assistant coach, helped his country to an epic quarter-final encounter against Brazil four years ago which Denmark eventually lost 3-2.

Now he reckons the Danes, who will put Jon Dahl Tomasson and Stig Tofting through fitness tests on Saturday morning, can go several steps further.

Tomasson, the former Newcastle star who has been struggling with a groin strain, and Bolton's Tofting joined in a light training session at the Niigata stadium this evening.

The Danes are hopeful both will be fit to play and are agonising particularly over Tomasson who has garnered four goals already in the tournament.

"I don't know yet, I didn't train yesterday," said Tomasson, who is joining AC Milan after helping Feyenoord to UEFA Cup success.

"But today it is a bit better and I am going to go back and get as much treatment as possible."

Laudrup insisted both would need to prove they were 100% before they would be considered but the man whose glittering pedigree spanned Ajax, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Lazio and Juventus was in confident, though realistic, mood.

"Of course it is possible that we can win the World Cup," said Laudrup.

"It is also possible we could go home tomorrow. It is a match which is 50-50 and maybe the key is who will attack first.

"It will be difficult. We are playing a great side but we are not afraid of anybody.

"I don't think there is a secret. I just think that we are a team. Maybe we don't have the big stars as some of the great nations, but when everybody is performing at their maximum we are very difficult to beat. We have seen that already.

"The players are confident in their skills. We have just beaten the world champions. We won our group. Nobody expected that so we can be very satisfied."

That 2-0 triumph over France, in which Tomasson and Dennis Rommedahl scored, was justification of the fine-tuning Laudrup and coach Morten Olsen have been effecting on a Denmark side which remained unbeaten during qualification and which has been utilising an attacking 4-3-3 formation in a bid to recreate the glories of four years ago.

Olsen, a former captain who made 102 appearances for his country including leading the famous Dansh Dynamite team in Mexico in 1986, confirmed the point today while at the same time talking up England.

"It will be a physical game," said Olsen. "England are a fantastic team and have to be favourites. I'm not just saying that, I really mean it. They have big match players who are all at huge clubs and are used to the pressure and that can make all the difference. That is so important in close games."

Olsen admitted his side had been practising penalties in readiness for the battle to go down to the wire but tapped his head and said: "It's not really a technical matter. It's all up here. They are two teams who desperately want to win and I think now the group phase is over we are going to see some marvellous football."

Olsen intimated that David Beckham, and his set-pieces, was the player they feared most but agreed he had not reached his best form so far this World Cup.

"Maybe he would grow in the rest of the tournament but hopefully he will not do so tomorrow," said Olsen.

The Danish team is likely to show two changes from the team which started against France.

Christian Poulsen misses the match through suspension after receiving two yellow cards and Martin Jorgensen is also out. Chelsea's Jesper Gronkjaer and Everton's Thomas Gravesen both look set to come in.