WHEN Gareth Southgate guided England to the semi-finals of the last World Cup in Russia, there was a sense that simply making the last four of a major tournament for the first time in more than two decades had been a considerable achievement. Yes, losing to Croatia was bitterly disappointing. But wasn’t it great to see England back in the big time?

Three years on, and while the setting might be similar, the emotions surrounding this evening’s Euro 2020 semi-final with Denmark are markedly different to the feelings that attached themselves to 2018’s game with Croatia. England have been brilliant so far, but for all the joy that accompanied the win over Germany and the satisfaction of Saturday’s thrashing of Ukraine, there is no sense of a job having been done yet.

As Southgate freely admits, the successes so far will count for nothing if England do not see off Denmark and qualify for a first major final since 1966. For all that the Danes can claim to be the best side England have faced so far, we might never get a better opportunity to end 55 years of hurt.

Returning to Wembley should be a major advantage, with the attendance for this evening’s game rising above 60,000. Bukayo Saka’s return to training means Southgate has a full squad to select from, with all his key players in form.

The defence, which is still to concede a goal all tournament, is likely to remain unchanged, although Denmark’s use of a back five could mean Southgate is tempted to tinker with his own formation. As the Germany win proved, shuffling Kyle Walker infield and fielding three centre-halves is no handicap for this England team.

The central-midfield partnership of Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips, which has been so pivotal to England’s run to the last four, will be unaltered, so if there is to be a change to the side that started against Ukraine, it is likely to be the return of either Saka or Phil Foden for Jadon Sancho. Jack Grealish will once again be waiting in the wings if required.

Denmark’s tournament has inevitably been coloured by the horrendous incident involving Christian Eriksen in their opening game. Eriksen’s cardiac arrest, and subsequent recovery, has brought the Danish squad together, evoking comparisons to 1992, when Denmark were parachuted into the Euros as a replacement for war-torn Yugoslavia, and went on to lift the trophy.

Denmark’s players want to succeed for Eriksen, but there is more than a wave of emotion powering Kasper Hjulmand’s squad. It would be dangerous to downplay the capabilities of a Danish side that won at Wembley as recently as last October, when Eriksen’s penalty secured a 1-0 victory over England in the Nations League.

That showed what Denmark are capable of, but England are ready to see them off. Two semi-finals in the space of three years is quite an achievement. A first final in more than half-a-century is an even more notable prize.