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England sweep past Denmark 3-0

Captain Beckham led his team by example

NIIGATA, Japan -- England are through to the quarterfinals of the World Cup for the first time in 12 years after beating Denmark 3-0.

Three goals in the first half left the Danes with too high a mountain to climb and England now face the winners of the Brazil v Belgium match being played on Monday.

England got off to a dream start after just five minutes when Danish goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen failed to prevent a Rio Ferdinand header crossing the line.

There was more jubilation when Michael Owen fired the second after 22 minutes, and Emile Heskey sealed the domination of the first half -- and the match -- with England's third goal on 44 minutes.

England's first goal came when a David Beckham corner produced a goalmouth scramble and Ferdinand's header bounced off Sorensen into the net.

The Danes' nightmare start continued when two minutes later substitute Kasper Bogelund had to be brought on for the injured Thomas Helveg.

England looked the more dangerous for most of the first-half but had to survive a couple of scares and Sorensen partially atoned for his earlier error when he dived and took the ball off Heskey's feet for what could have been a second England goal.

England only had to wait a few more minutes for that second though, when Owen got his first goal of the tournament.

Heskey, Nicky Butt and Trevor Sinclair were all involved in the initial build-up until Butt was first to the ball ahead of Thomas Gravesen and a deft flick found Owen unmarked.

Denmark tried to strike back and Ebbe Sand squandered a golden chance to immediately half the deficit after beating Sol Campbell and Ferdinand but his shot went wide.

Torrential rain failed to dampen the England spirit and at 44 minutes Beckham set up a chance for Heskey, whose first time strike beat Sorensen.

Ferdinand and Beckham celebrate the first goal

The rain stopped for the second-half in which England appeared to have stepped down a gear and was more defensive as Denmark, now with Claus Jensen on the pitch for Stig Tofting, launched several assaults.

David Seaman was unable to cling onto a low strike from Niclas Jensen, although Sol Campbell came to the rescue and cleared the ball.

Other Danish attacks came from Gravesen, whose shot from the edge of the area was deflected just wide.

With three substitutions -- Robbie Fowler for Owen, Kieron Dyer for Paul Scholes and Teddy Sherringham for Heskey -- England did launched counter-offensives, including a Beckham shot from 30 yards which was tipped over the bar by Sorensen.

England David Seaman, Danny Mills, Sol Campbell, Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Cole, David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes, Trevor Sinclair, Michael Owen, Emile Heskey

Denmark Thomas Sorensen, Thomas Helveg, Rene Henriksen, Martin Laursen, Niclas Jensen, Dennis Rommedahl, Stig Tofting, Thomas Gravesen, Jesper Gronkjaer, Ebbe Sand, Jon Dahl Tomasson

Referee Markus Merk (Germany)