This time 10 of the group have World Cup experience.Further self-belief has come, Campbell added, from last week’s result in Sapporo. “The Argentina game was a massive game for us,” he said, “not just in winning but in believing we can beat a big country, a favourite It has given everyone a lift. Anyone with doubt in their minds now believes.”England’s second round opponents doubtless feel the same after defeating France. Denmark also have tournament experience having reached the quarter-finals in France, a stage further than England.Campbell said he was still happier to be facing them than Senegal. “The African sides can be off-the-cuff going forward which creates problems for defenders.

With Denmark we know roughly how they will play.”Ebbe Sand, the Danish centre-forward, played against Campbell for Schalke 04 in the Champions’ League this year. Against an Arsenal side which was already through to the next stage, and soon down to 10 men when Oleg Luzhny was sent off, the German side won 3-1 Sand did not score but made the opening goal. Campbell said: “He’s a good goalscorer, a physical test and a direct runner.” All the same, he is probably more suited to Campbell’s game than Senegal’s elusive El Hadji Diouf.Campbell, remarkably, has only conceded three free-kicks in this World Cup, one of which led to a caution against Sweden. “I’ve not thought about it but that’s good because if you give one away in the wrong areas there are players in this competition who can put them away,” he said.The rest of the back four have similar records which has contributed to their conceding only one goal in the competition.

Campbell and Rio Ferdinand, meanwhile, have now conceded just four goals in more than 18 hours in tandem.”Partnership are about balance and we seem to be a good balance,” said Campbell He added: “I feel optimistic. The team is shaping up well and there’s more to come.”David Platt admitted yesterday that, at no stage in 1990, did he really believe England could win the World Cup. “I regret that because, if we did, maybe we would have,” said Platt.Campbell appears to harbour fewer doubts “You have to believe this is your destiny. You don’t want to walk on the pitch and think: ‘It’s not going to happen today’ But it won’t just happen You have to work for it.”. Michael Owen has gone four starts without a goal, the longest drought of his England career. Emile Heskey, overall record three goals in 27 appearances, has gone 10 matches and nine months since scoring for England in Munich.