Campbell is full of confidence on brink of half-century

England central defender believes his team have 'greatness in our grasp' while Japanese and Korean supporters find their identity

Sol Campbell is not given to extravagant statements. Having once been talked into talking Christian Gross, then his manager at Tottenham, out of a job he is careful with his words.

Yesterday, however, he celebrated the imminent arrival of his 50th England cap by accepting the national side had "greatness in our grasp". Campbell, speaking before a light work-out at the team's Awaji Island training base, added: "There are four games to go. That's how close we all are. But it will take hard work, skill, determination and luck all rolled into one."

The Arsenal defender added: "Getting through this group was the main target because everyone was saying it was the Group of Death and we won't get through. We survived. We now believe we are really going to do something this time."

Tomorrow, against Denmark in Niigata, Campbell should become only the seventh English central defender to achieve a half-century of caps. At 27 – a figure he describes as "middle-age" – he should certainly surpass Des Walker, Dave Watson, Tony Adams and, probably, Terry Butcher. Should he stay fit, and continue his present form, he may even threaten Billy Wright and Bobby Moore, though not for another five years.

"Reaching 50 caps is a massive thing for me," he said. "Not many players get there and it is a great honour."

Of the current squad only David Seaman and David Beckham have won more caps than Campbell and he said his experience made him feel much more comfortable than he did in the 1998 tournament.

"I'm a different person this time around," he said. "You need players who've been there before. We had less tournament experience last time."

Indeed, none of those players who featured in France had played in a World Cup finals, a legacy of England's failure to qualify in 1994. 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."