Walcott repays the faith

Croatia 1 England 4THE SHEER joy was mightier than even the achievement of wrecking Croatia's proud unbeaten record of 35 unbeaten qualifiers at home. With a hat-trick for Theo Walcott, this was the most uncanny result for England since the 5-1 away trouncing of Germany under Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2001. In his first fixture of genuine significance, Fabio Capello has awakened immense expectations. Perhaps he is also the man to meet them.

Croatia enjoyed nothing more than an irrelevant goal from the substitute Mario Mandzukic. That was not permitted to go unpunished. Within four minutes Wayne Rooney was putting Walcott through to roll home his third goal.

The 19-year-old gave his country the lead with a splendid finish for his first England goal. The opportunity had its random element, with Danijel Pranjic clearing a Rooney pass and smacking the ball into the back of his team-mate Robert Kovac. Possession dropped to Walcott and from a tight angle on the right the Arsenal man found the far corner of the net. Soon he was learning that prominence has its unpleasant consequences when, seven minutes from half-time, Josip Simunic inflicted a professional foul for which he was booked.

England, by then, had settled down in defence and held their own in midfield. There were errors and Capello would have been indignant that Rooney, a liability when trying to help block the opposition, conceded a free-kick near the area four minutes from half-time. The set-piece came to nothing and at that juncture there was a muddle and anxiety to Croatia's work that is normally unimaginable at this venue.

England, like all visitors since 1994, had failed to beat Croatia here in a competitive match. That, of course, would have seemed like an incentive to Capello. With a victory his methods would be beyond criticism and his new team would be in excellent shape to reach the 2010 World Cup. The apparent problem with all that was the presence of a Croatia line-up with a superior record to England's.

They had emphasised that with the 3-2 win at Wembley 10 months ago that barred England from Euro 2008. Failure breeds instability and of Capello's starting line-up here only Gareth Barry, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole had kicked off against Croatia that night in November 2007. Predictably, Slaven Blilic was able to retain eight members of the side he sent out then. Capello's plan entailed overriding his normal conservatism to an extent, with Walcott continuing in place of David Beckham, although he did replace the teenager with minutes to go to win his 105th cap. Any reservations about the youngster's ability to cover was superseded by faith that his speed would unsettle Croatia on their left.

That plan made sense but England, inevitably in a trying environment, were not efficient in all that they did. Ashley Cole, for instance, was unsteady at the start and set-pieces spread panic. After 13 minutes David James palmed a corner towards Vedran Corluka, but his drive missed the target.

Croatia's Simunic was inexcusably spared a second yellow card after body-checking Rooney, but the leniency of the referee turned out have its limits. There was no option but to send off Robert Kovac for an elbow to the head of Joe Cole that left him cut and the Chelsea midfielder retired to the bench. Jermaine Jenas replaced him.

Bilic's team had lost control and were outplayed by opponents taking deep pleasure in doing so. The second goal for Walcott, converted from an angle on the right, was set up by Rooney after neat interplay with Emile Heskey. England, avoiding leniency, soon struck again.

Jenas went to the bye-line and the cut-back was converted by Rooney for his first England goal since October of last year. Croatia, so often imperious here, were left with nothing more to do than strive for damage limitation.

Guardian Service

CROATIA:Pletikosa, Simunic, Robert Kovac, Corluka, Pranjic, Rakitic, Petric (Knezevic 56), Nico Kovac (Pokrivac 62), Srna, Modric, Olic (Mandzukic 73). Subs not used: Runje, Krizanac, Leko, Klasnic. Booked: Simunic, Srna.

ENGLAND:James, Brown, Terry (Upson 88), Ferdinand, Ashley Cole, Walcott (Beckham 84), Lampard, Barry, Joe Cole (Jenas 55), Rooney, Heskey. Subs not used: Robinson, Johnson, Downing, Defoe. Booked: Heskey.

Referee:Lubos Michel (Slovakia).