A friendly rivalry for fringe players

Euro 2004 is still seven months away and in football that's as good as several aeons.

If you need further proof, take a look at Eriksson's team that performed so neurotically in the final qualifying match against Greece at Old Trafford in October 2001.

Of the 14 players used that day, exactly half played no part in any of England's matches in Japan.

The goalkeeper against Greece was Nigel Martyn, then of Leeds, who failed to make the squad, as did fellow-starters Gerrard, Gary Neville and Nick Barmby.

In addition, substitutes Steve McManaman and Andy Cole missed out, while Arsenal's Martin Keown was included but played no part in Japan.

Eriksson's team for their opening match of the World Cup, against Sweden in Saitama, some eight months later, looked appreciably different, with Owen Hargreaves, Danny Mills and Darius Vassell in the starting line-up, while Joe Cole and Kieron Dyer came on.

So there is still plenty of time to make a mark for players such as Chelsea's vastly promising fullback Glen Johnson and Charlton's outstanding midfielder Scott Parker, starting on Sunday.

Which areas give players the best opportunity to make a mark?

There is certainly a chance for someone to make an impression up front.

Michael Owen, who misses this friendly through injury, is a certainty if fit, while Emile Heskey and Wayne Rooney did well enough against Turkey last month.

Heskey doesn't always punch his weight, though, and the match against the Danes would be an ideal opportunity to look again at Southampton's James Beattie, to see if he could transfer his impressive Premiership form to the international stage.

The midfield remains England's strength and opportunities could be scarce if Beckham, Paul Scholes and Gerrard stay fit.

Frank Lampard, Chelsea's best player so far this season, is now right up there with the main contenders, though, and the industrious Parker deserves a chance to demonstrate just how much he has improved over the past couple of seasons.

Arsenal's Ray Parlour knows he will not be recalled, but he said today: "I am disappointed I didn't get my chance but what Sven is doing is right.

"He is bringing in youngsters and trying to bed them in for the next World Cup. I am not getting any younger and I will be too old for the next one."

Looking less far ahead, the make-up of England's back four next summer is no foregone conclusion.

Rio Ferdinand's memory lapse could, if followed by a ban, keep him out of international action until the spring and, the way John Terry has been playing, it is by no means certain that the Chelsea defender wouldn't have been picked ahead of the Manchester United centre-back anyway.

Gary Neville is the first choice at right-back, but Eriksson will need to assess his options.

With that in mind, the match against Denmark could be Johnson's big chance to impress.

The teenage Chelsea full-back is not yet the finished article but he oozes class when moving forward down the right flank.

In goal, West Ham's David James is very much the top choice, but this could be a good time to run the rule over Leeds keeper Paul Robinson again, even though his reputation took a bit of a battering on Saturday.

One thing is certain. The XI who started against Turkey last month will not be the same as the England team that takes the pitch for their opening match next June, somewhere in Portugal.