Ferdinand has been England's defensive rock.

By Damian Spellman, PA Sport

Click here for more England news
Click here for more Denmark news

England go into Saturday's clash with Denmark knowing that width could be the key if they are to book their place in the quarter-finals.

Where the threat from Sweden's Henrik Larsson, Argentina's Gabriel Batistuta, Juan Sebastian Veron and Pablo Aimar, and Nigeria's Jay Okocha, came largely down the middle, the Danes will attack down the flanks.

Injury is threatening to interrupt Jon Dahl Tomasson's dream World Cup finals, but even if he is missing, wide-men Jesper Gronkjaer and Dennis Rommedahl will be the men to watch as they attempt to get the ball into the penalty area from both wings.

DEFENCE

England's back four has an increasing solidity about it as the knockout phase approaches with Rio Ferdinand emerging as his side's star man to date and Danny Mills making light of Gary Neville's absence.

However, Denmark's nominal 4-3-3 formation will create slightly different problems, especially for Mills and fellow full-back Ashley Cole, who will have their work cut out by Gronkjaer and Rommedahl.

Cole will need all his pace, and perhaps the assistance of Arsenal team-mate Sol Campbell, to snuff out pacy PSV Eindhoven winger Rommedahl, who has provided much of the ammunition for Tomasson and chipped in with a goal in the 2-0 win over France.

Tomasson has been isolated but deadly for much of the campaign as he has worked to find space in the box, but if he does not make it, 29-year-old Schalke 04 hitman Ebbe Sand has the experience and the potency in front of goal to cause problems.

MIDFIELD

England's midfield four effectively picks itself once again with Owen Hargreaves still struggling.

Kieron Dyer will be itching for a start after a fleeting appearance as a substitute against the Swedes, but Trevor Sinclair has made that left-hand berth his own with excellent performances against Argentina and Nigeria.

He and skipper David Beckham will have to help out their full-backs with Rommedahl and Gronkjaer playing advanced roles, but they cannot afford to leave Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes battling against the Danes' midfield trio of Stig Tofting, Thomas Gravesen and Martin Jorgensen for extended periods on what will be another energy-sapping test for the men in the middle of the park.

ATTACK

Sven-Goran Eriksson gambled on the pace of Michael Owen and Darius Vassell in the opening game against Sweden and it did not pay off.

Emile Heskey's restoration to the front line has given his side a better shape, but neither he nor Owen have yet hit top gear despite showing flashes of the form which made their selection inevitable.

The clamour for Teddy Sheringham's inclusion is mounting all the time, but at 36, he would do well to last 90 minutes even in the cooler Niigata evening climes.

He has already proven his effectiveness in a second-half cameo role, but Eriksson will hope the younger men can do the trick against a tight back four long before the Tottenham Hotspur veteran gets his run-out.

Thomas Sorensen's loss through injury would be a blow to the Danes and provide England with a timely boost.