England on course for quarter-finals - report

Denmark 0 England 3

England were heading for the World Cup quarter-finals after storming into a 3-0 interval lead in their second phase match with Denmark in Niigata.

An own goal from Denmark keeper Thomas Sorensen gave England the perfect start and that was capitalised on by further goals from Michael Owen and his Liverpool strike partner Emile Heskey.

England were looking to confirm their tag as pre-match favourites and maintain a proud record against Denmark.

England have notched nine victories and four draws in 14 previous meetings with the Danes and suffered their only defeat in a European Championship clash at Wembley in 1983.

The prize for the winners was a massive one with a likely quarter-final clash with Brazil - if they defeat Belgium in Kobe on Monday - awaiting the winners next Friday.

As expected, England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson named an unchanged side as he kept with the players who had shared the spoils with Nigeria on Wednesday to secure a spot in the second phase.

It gave Michael Owen another chance to open his scoring account in the 2002 finals while in contrast his Danish counterpart Jon Dahl Tomasson has already weighed in with four goals.

An enormous roar greeted England skipper David Beckham and the team as they took the field an hour before the kick-off to undergo their warm-up work.

England got off to a dream start when a left-wing corner from David Beckham was met by Rio Ferdinand who sent his header from the far post back across goal.

Sorensen appeared to be in control of the situation but let the ball slip from his grasp and he could only watch in despair as it crossed the line before a Denmark defender could clear.

It was just the tonic that England had needed from a game in which both coaches had predicted that a single goal may be sufficient to decide the outcome.

Before the goal Ferdinand had found Emile Heskey in space on the right but his control was woeful and the ball sailed harmlessly out of play for a throw-in.

England keeper David Seaman was given an early touch of the ball and he comfortably dealt with a right-wing cross from Stig Tofting.

England were certainly the quickest to settle and a chip from Beckham found Owen who had peeled away from his marker at the far post but he was unable to make full contact with his shot which was safely gathered by Sorensen.

The Danes were forced into an early change when Thomas Helveg limped out of the action to be replaced by Kasper Bogelund.

A mistake by Beckham gave Chelsea’s Jesper Gronkjaer the opportunity to burst down the left flank but his eventual low cross eluded everybody.

It was England who looked the more dangerous and Sorensen partially atoned for his earlier error to deny Heskey a second goal after 15 minutes.

The Liverpool striker shrugged off the challenge of Martin Laursen to find himself with a clear run at goal but Sorensen was quickly off his line to smother the attempted chip.

Rommedahl twice got into good positions down the right for Denmark but his first cross was well intercepted by Ferdinand and he over-hit the second.

Then after 22 minutes England found themselves in dreamland as Michael Owen ended his mini goal drought to double their lead.

Heskey, Butt and Trevor Sinclair were involved in the initial build-up before the West Ham player sent a low cross into the box.

Butt had continued his run and was first to the ball ahead of Thomas Gravesen and his deft flick found Owen unmarked.

The Liverpool striker needs no second invitation to tuck away such opportunities and he gave Sorensen no chance with a left-footed effort from eight yards out.

It was Owen’s first goal in five games but his 17th for England and his ninth in 15 appearances under Eriksson.

Denmark tried to strike back and Ebbe Sand squandered a golden chance to immediately half the deficit.

He appeared to have done the hard work when he cut back inside to take Campbell and Ferdinand out of the game but he then screwed his left-footed shot a yard wide much to the relief of David Seaman.

The onus was now on Denmark to force the pace but England still looked dangerous on the break and a fine pass from Ferdinand found Beckham in acres of space on the right touchline.

He delivered a near-post cross which Heskey got on the end of but Henriksen did enough to prevent him from making proper contact and Sorensen was able to gather.

Rommedahl was finding plenty of opportunities to run down the England left flank and one effort took him past Cole and into the penalty area but his eventual low centre flew well wide.

Then a minute before the interval England struck again with a rare international goal from Heskey.

A throw from Mills looked to have been cut out by Manchester City player Niclas Jensen but Beckham harried him into losing possession and sent over a low cross which picked out Heskey on the edge of the area.

He needed no second invitation before crashing an unstoppable curling shot past Sorensen to put England well on course for the quarter-finals.