Opportunity knocks for Eriksson's men

Cole, Beckham, Ferdinand and Mills share a joke

By Phil McNulty BBC Sport Online's man with England

England's emphatic dismissal of dangerous Denmark now raises the question that no-one wants to talk about.

Can England win the World Cup for the first time since that glorious July day at Wembley against West Germany in 1966?

Buoyant England firmly focused

In Eriksson, England have a coach who is calm, experienced, and has the total respect of the players

The answer, delivered with a reluctance that comes from years of disappointment, has to be that they can.

The surprise disappearance of big guns such as Argentina and France, coupled with England's steady improvement under the guidance of coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, means that they are serious contenders to write a glorious new chapter in the nation's sporting history.

Now Brazil stand in the way, but there is nothing to suggest that England should go into the match with fear, be it Brazil or any other team left in the tournament.

Spain have been impressive, but those of us who have been with England since the start of the campaign have detected a growing confidence about the camp since the dismal opening draw against Sweden.

Beckham and Cole work off the effects of the Denmark victory

And in Eriksson they have a coach who is calm, experienced, and has the total respect of England's players.

Brazil are tough opponents, but their shambolic defending offers genuine cause for hope.

If England pass their quarter-final against Brazil, then anything is possible.

England have conceded one goal in four games, a statistic which stands well with any team hoping to win the World Cup.

In midfield they have the Manchester United trio of David Beckham, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes forming an effective unit, and in attack they have Michael Owen.

Opportunity has knocked, now it is up to Sven-Goran Eriksson and his team to open the door

Owen, with due respect to Beckham, is the best big-game player in the England team by a distance.

He gave the impression that his long-awaited goal against Denmark was merely the warm-up act for the more serious challenges ahead.

England performed with consumate professionalism in the rain-soaked surroundings of Niigata's magnificent Big Swan stadium, giving those of us who held out faint hope of a World Cup triumph that tell-tale tremor of over-expectation.

But the answer to the key question is this: yes, England can win the World Cup.

Opportunity has knocked, now it is up to Sven-Goran Eriksson and his team to open the door.

They are more than capable, and in doing so fulfilling the dreams of a nation.