England - 6 Jamaica - 0: Jamaica posed no questions, other people are obliged to ask one or two. While Sven-Goran Eriksson was nonplussed to hear even minor reservations expressed after the biggest margin of victory in his time as England manager, the concerns are a compliment to him. People believe once more this side could win the World Cup, but only if he and his players get virtually every decision right. Hence the quibbling.
England could not avoid being their own worst enemies on Saturday because there was barely a token threat from Jamaica. An inferior side really has to hustle, but the visitors lacked either the inclination or the fitness to pester the man in possession.
It was a fixture designed to be a celebration of England. Morale was topped up and so too was the popularity of the manager, cajoled by David Beckham into going on to the pitch at the end to bask in the affection of the crowd. But Eriksson knows well that his career with England will end in derision should the side disappoint at the World Cup.
The fact that Jamaica were punchless and overwhelmed actually made the little lapses in the back four all the more concerning. If the side has shaky moments in a token contest what will happen in the heat of true battle? The consoling answer would be that England will be more vigilant in genuine games yet that assumption has proved unfounded in the past.
Rio Ferdinand, John Terry and Sol Campbell all made needless mistakes, with the latter seeming so stripped of his physical presence that he could see precious little action in Germany unless there are a few injuries. England have to bear the defence in mind because, despite the merits of individuals, its collective failure has been costly. Six goals were conceded in the four matches at Euro 2004.
Saturday's freewheeling win and the preference of his players for an orthodox 4-4-2 formation ought not to prevent Eriksson from reinstating a holding midfielder should the team reach the latter stages of the World Cup.
England, in fairness, did well on Saturday considering that Jamaica could not put up enough resistance to test their strength. Set-pieces were exploited efficiently. Even the first goal started with a long free-kick by Paul Robinson that Peter Crouch flicked on before Michael Owen hooked over a cross that Frank Lampard shot home. The second came from a curling dead-ball delivery by Beckham that Jermaine Taylor helplessly headed into his own net.
Crouch took ownership of the rest of the game. While he may never be idolised, there is now a mass chumminess towards him from England supporters who mocked his introduction in place of Shaun Wright-Phillips at this stadium in last October's World Cup qualifier with Poland. Following a Beckham corner, his attempt enjoyed a major deflection by Omar Daley but it is to be deemed the first element of a Crouch hat-trick.
His next goal came when he had merely to turn the ball in after a Beckham pass and a Jamie Carragher cross. The third, however, was entrancing. Crouch's curling finish from Owen's lay-off epitomised his confidence. He had indeed been a little too full of himself earlier when aiming to dink home a penalty and clipping it over the bar instead.
A foul on Owen had given Crouch that opportunity from the spot. The vice-captain chalked up an important phase in his recovery from a fractured metatarsal. His first goal since December came when Ferdinand, clipped a pass through and Owen rounded Donovan Ricketts to slip the ball into an empty net and establish a 4-0 lead.
If all were to go exactly as Eriksson intends, the group phase of the World Cup would provide whatever fine-tuning the forward still seeks. The physical capacity that is essential for Owen's marksmanship to be shown is increasing. He completed the whole match and, more significantly, was continuing to contribute while others whiled away the remaining time.
Beckham is revelling in a new-found prominence. With Steven Gerrard's exuberance partly sacrificed when Eriksson asked him to sit deeper than Lampard, the captain had more scope to be prominent. The Real Madrid player is an asset again. Beckham should be pleased with himself and England, too, can be satisfied, by and large, with their preparations.
... Guardian Service
ENGLAND: Robinson (James 45), Ashley Cole (Bridge 35), Ferdinand, Terry (Campbell 33), Carragher, Joe Cole, Lampard (Carrick 68), Gerrard (Downing 77), Beckham (Lennon 68), Crouch, Owen. Subs not used: Hargreaves, Jenas, Carson, Walcott. Goals: Lampard 11, Taylor 17 og, Crouch 29, Owen 32, Crouch 67, 89.
JAMAICA: Ricketts, Garfield Reid, Claude Davis, Damion Stewart, Daley, Hue (Jermaine Johnson 85), Taylor (Crawford 45), Euell (Stephenson 79), Campbell-Ryce, Shelton (Burton 48), Fuller (Bennett 76). Subs not used: Sawyers, Demar Stewart, Morrison, Kerr. Booked: Taylor, Crawford.
Referee: K Plautz (Austria).
