McClaren: It may take a bit of magic

"The Danes are a good team, though. They have pace up front and in wide positions, they're tough in midfield and they are organised at the back.

"It might well take a bit of magic to break them down and we know we're at our best playing at a high tempo. But we are confident that if we can play as well as we know we can, we can earn the result we need."

McClaren also talked about Denmark's danger man, former Newcastle striker Jon Dahl Tomasson, who has already scored four goals in the tournament.

"I watched Tomasson quite a bit playing for Feyenoord last season," he said. "He always did have ability but he's matured as a player in recent seasons."

McClaren confirmed that Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves, who injured a calf against Argentina, would not be fit for Saturday's match in Niigata but added: "There is a six-day break between Saturday's game and the quarter-final so he will be working towards that match, should we beat Denmark."

The Middlesbrough manager also said he was not concerned that England have yet to score a goal from open play. "I am not worried because we are creating chances," he said.

"Set pieces are an important part of the game and we have a great deliverer in David Beckham. When the time is right people like Michael Owen and Emile Heskey will score."

McClaren made a point of praising Sven-Goran Eriksson for his coolness under pressure.

"The perfect example was after the Sweden game," he said. "It was typical Sven because while others were disappointed, he stayed calm and put the trust back into the players."

McClaren also confirmed that the spirit remains high in the England camp.

"There are no little cliques," he said. "Everyone is in this together. They have forgotten what club they play for back home, who they play with. They're all part of a very good England team."