The Danes, cruising surprisingly into the quarter-finals for the first time, were totally unrecognisable from the dour and uninspired team of the first round.

The last time they played in the second round in 1986 they lost 1-5 to Spain. They now meet Brazil on July 3 in Nantes promising to be no pushovers for the world champions either. Nigeria, hoping to be the first Africans to lift the coveted trophy, were 0-4 down before substitute Tijani Babangida pulled one back in the 78th.

But Denmark, with many of their players in the sunset of their international careers, took the game to the Nigerians and deserved to be 2-0 ahead after just 11 minutes.

Striker Peter Moller made what was surely one of the most sensational World Cup debuts of recent memory, scoring in the third minute with virtually his first touch of the ball inthe tournament.

Michael Laudrup ran to the edge of the area and then flicked subtly sideways into Moller's path.

The 26-year-old striker had the space to crash a shot past goalkeeper Peter Rufai, who had a nightmare night and carried some blame for the second goal. Michael Laudrup teed up the ball from a free kick, Moller cracked a shot through Jay-Jay Okocha's legs and Rufai could only parry it to Brian Laudrup who fired home.

An inspired substitution gave Denmark their third goal in the 60th minute. Moller gave way to Ebbe Sand in the 59th minute and the same magic flowed from one to the other as Sand scored with almost his first touch of the game.

Michael Laudrupfloated in a high ball which Sand neatly trapped, sidestepped defenders and shot past Rufai. Thomas Helveg made it 4-0 in the 76th after another bad mistake by Rufai, who failed to hold a Martin Jorgensen shot. Sand won it back to Jorgensen who found Helveg.