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<span class="vitstoryheadline">England advances to quarterfinals</span>
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<span class="vitstorydate">06/15/2002</span>
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<span class="vitstorybyline">Associated Press</span>
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    NIIGATA, Japan &#8211; Sven-Goran Eriksson is working his magic again.

    <p>
      Once embattled England advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Cup 
      with an impressive 3-0 victory over Denmark on Saturday, the team that 
      ended the reign of defending champion France in the first round.
    </p>
    <p>
      In addition to beating Germany 5-1 in qualifying last September and 
      ending Argentina's psychological hold over the team with a 1-0 victory 
      in the first round, Eriksson's team has overcome a number of injuries.
    </p>
    <p>
      And now they have Englishmen excited over the team's prospects.
    </p>
    <p>
      &quot;I saw fans doing congas and Mexican waves,&quot; said Rio Ferdinand, who 
      scored England's first goal. &quot;Hopefully we can keep them smiling and 
      happy for longer.&quot;
    </p>
    <p>
      England's next opponent could be four-time champion Brazil.
    </p>
    <p>
      The Brazilians, a favorite to win the championship, take on Belgium on 
      Monday; the quarterfinal is at Shizuoka on June 21.
    </p>
    <p>
      Asked about the prospect to playing Brazil, Eriksson said: &quot;I think 
      Brazil, how they are playing at this moment, they are one of the 
      favorites. Many favorites already went out ... so Brazil is maybe one.
    </p>
    <p>
      &quot;Now we have six days before the next game. We're trying to rest, 
      recover.&quot;
    </p>
    <p>
      Michael Owen and Emile Heskey scored in the first half for a 3-0 edge.
    </p>
    <p>
      &quot;To score three goals against England is nearly impossible,&quot; coach 
      Morten Olsen said.
    </p>
    <p>
      Owen's injury forced him out of the second half.
    </p>
    <p>
      &quot;Owen has a groin injury, but we do not think it is a bad one. We think 
      he will be OK for the next game,&quot; Eriksson said.
    </p>
    <p>
      England shattered Denmark's confidence early, taking advantage of an 
      error by Danish goalkeeper Thomas Soerensen.
    </p>
    <p>
      In the fifth minute, David Beckham sent in a twisting corner kick from 
      the left that Ferdinand headed for the goal. The ball bounced off the 
      turf and into the arms of Soerensen, who bobbled the easy save and 
      juggled the ball across the line.
    </p>
    <p>
      It was Ferdinand's first goal for England.
    </p>
    <p>
      &quot;I think it's very important when you're in this stage, the knockout 
      stage, to score the first goal,&quot; Eriksson said. &quot;We were lucky we 
      scored; it was a good corner.&quot;
    </p>
    <p>
      England made it 2-0 in the 22nd as Owen scored his first goal of the 
      tournament. Trevor Sinclair and Nicky Butt combined on a quick 1-2 
      passing combination, with the ball going to Owen, who left-footed it 
      past a diving Soerensen.
    </p>
    <p>
      With heavy rain falling, Emile Heskey made it 3-0 in the 44th, scoring 
      on a low, skidding shot from 18 yards.
    </p>
    <p>
      &quot;The whole team came in for a bit of stick after the last game,&quot; Beckham 
      said. &quot;One person described it as awful, but we have done a good job 
      today.&quot;
    </p>
    <p>
      The Danes never got back into the match as the rain subsided and England 
      kept up its crisp, no-pressure passing. Denmark looked nothing like the 
      team that won Group A.
    </p>
    <p>
      &quot;All the second half we defended very well,&quot; Eriksson said. &quot;They had 
      the ball a lot, but they didn't create very much.&quot;
    </p>
    <p>
      England fans outnumbered a few hundred Danish fans in the 42,000-seat 
      Big Swan Stadium. Some 10,000 England fans were joined by thousands of 
      Japanese wearing England colors.
    </p>
    <p>
      
    </p>
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