Tomasson injury doubt boosts England

From Sports Illustrated • Grant Wahl: New breed of U.S. player • Wahl Insider: Gray Goose • S.L. Price: No rest for the weary Features • 91st Minute: Hail the hosts • Snell: Serious spending • World Cup Hall of Fame: Top 100 • Scores | Schedules and Standings From Soccer America • Woitalla: Korea paves the way • Archive: Coverage from Korea From World Soccer • Glanville: England has history vs. Argentina • Archive: Subscribe to World Soccer From CNN.com • French coach asked to meeting • Special Coverage: CNN.com Europe From Time.com • World Cup Weblog • Full Coverage: Insight from Korea/Japan Multimedia • Photo Gallery: A fine first week

NIIGATA, Japan (AP) -- After getting through the toughest group and reaching the second round of the World Cup, England got some good news on Friday. It may not have to face four-goal striker Jon Dahl Tomasson in Saturday's game against Denmark.

Tomasson, soon to join AC Milan from UEFA Cup holder Feyenoord, has twice as many goals as the entire England team and is rated by England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson as a serious danger to its chances of reaching the last eight for the first time since 1990.

The striker, on course to win the tournament's Golden Boot award as top scorer, suffered a thigh muscle injury after Denmark knocked defending champion France out of the competition with a 2-0 victory.

With midfielder Stig Tofting also struggling with injuries to both feet, the Danes could go into the game at Niigata's Big Swan stadium far weaker than expected.

Morten Olsen's team, many of whom play in England, has been one of the big surprises of this World Cup, topping Group A and scoring a result over France that left the 1998 champion last with no goals.

If Tomasson doesn't recover from his injury, which he puts down to playing too many games in an arduous season for both club and country, the Danes could be in trouble against an England team seemingly getting stronger with each game.

Jan Moelby, a former Danish international who was a star with Liverpool and now manages Hull City in England, said the loss of Tomasson would be a major setback for his countrymen.

"It's a massive blow for Denmark," he said. "All indications are that he will probably miss the game. He is the only player we can't do without.

"He has been in sensational form and he is a first-class finisher. A Danish team without Jon Dahl would not be the same."

England's only injury worry remains Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves, who is sidelined with a shinbone problem accidentally caused by teammate Michael Owen in the 1-0 victory over Argentina at Sapporo June 7.

Hargreaves, Canadian-born with an English father and Welsh mother, missed the 0-0 tie with Nigeria that earned England a place in the last 16. Happily for Eriksson, Manchester United's Nicky Butt has been a more than able replacement alongside clubmates David Beckham and Paul Scholes in midfield.

Although England has looked impressive at the back and in midfield against Argentina and Nigeria without conceding a goal, the strike force has done little to scare its biggest rivals in the competition.

Liverpool striker Owen didn't score in any of the three Group F games and the goals against Sweden (a 1-1 tie) and Argentina came from set pieces. Defender Sol Campbell headed home a Beckham corner against the Swedes at Saitama and Beckham fired home the only goal against Argentina from the penalty spot.