Signs of hope for England

England walked out at Wembley with the boos from their last visit still a vivid memory, their coach under renewed fire and their faith in him supposedly at breaking point.

Ninety minutes later, there was at last renewed hope. After the desperate performances against Sweden and Bulgaria, here was an England team finally performing with desire, movement, belief and commitment.

Darren Anderton opened the scoring midway through the first-half, Paul Merson doubled the advantage just before the break and even though countless other chances came and went, the team left the field with cheers rather than boos ringing in their ears.

It was admittedly a much-altered England line-up, missing the likes of David Seaman, Tony Adams, Paul Ince, Alan Shearer and Michael Owen. In had come the so-called fringe players, such as Nigel Martyn, Rio Ferdinand, Nicky Butt, Dion Dublin, Merson and Ian Wright.

Martyn was faultless in goal and the back three were solid, with Ferdinand effectively breaking out from defence. In midfield, David Beckham controlled the game with maturity, Merson was full of running and Anderton was always ready to link with the attack.

Ahead of them, Dublin provided the focal point with his link play and the evergreen 35-year-old Wright was full of twists and turns, showing the way to absent friends with his eager movement.

On 21 minutes, Le Saux found Wright down the left and the striker turned his marker but his cross looked miss-hit until it was missed by the Czech defence and then by Dublin before it somehow found its way to Anderton rushing in. The wing-back did not hesitate as he stroked the ball home.

Six minutes before the break England gained further reward. Merson started the move, with Wright again turning provider on the left wing. His cross was this time perfect, flicked on by Dublin to Merson who arrived unmarked at the far post to beat Kouba.

England: Martyn, Campbell, Keown, Ferdinand, Le Saux, Butt, Beckham, Anderton, Dublin, I Wright (Fowler 70), Merson (Hendrie 76). Subs Not Used: Southgate, Neville, Batty, Redknapp, R Wright. Goals: Anderton 22, Merson 39.

Czech Republic: Kouba, Latal (Baranek 45), Votava, Novotny (Lokvenc 45), Repka, Berger, Nemec (Vonasek 45), Poborsky, Kuka (Sloncik 73), Smicer (Kotulek 45), Bejbl. Subs Not Used: Kozel, Maier.

Referee: U Meier (Switzerland).