England 5 Croatia 1

The World Cup 2010 Group Six qualifier between England and Croatia at Wembley on Wednesday Sept 9, 2009.

From brolly to Bolly. What a difference a good manager makes. As Fabio Capello masterminded the destruction of Croatia, as the champagne corks popped as Wembley crowed its delight at reaching the 2010 World Cup, the memory of Steve McClaren clutching his umbrella as Slaven Bilic’s side won here two years ago was confined to history.

The future looks promising under Capello, who has invigorated a group of players demoralised under McClaren’s lacklustre leadership.

How Wembley loved it, as Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard both scored twice, Wayne Rooney added another and the outstanding Aaron Lennon led Croatia’s defenders a merry dance.

How the England football family appreciated it, former captains like Bryan Robson and Alan Shearer standing to salute the latest generation charged with ending 44 years of hurt. England, though, still have work to do, notably tightening a defence that allowed Eduardo a late riposte.

Even before Lennon had tied Croatia’s defence up in knots, even before Lampard and Gerrard had sent Wembley into dream-land, the determination of Capello’s players had been inescapable, starting in the tunnel where they stared ahead, utterly focused, aware that the eyes of the nation were upon them, not simply those inside a Wembley which surprisingly was not full.

Even Capello, lining up behind them, instinctively stretched his leg muscles before stepping out in a stadium where he once scored for Italy. Croatia’s coach, Slaven Bilic, proffered the hand of peace, following their disagreement in the build-up, which Capello took coldly and briefly, cutting short Bilic’s attempt at conversation. England’s manager wanted his players’ football to do the talking.

They did not let him down. Fast out of the traps, pressing hard and high up the field, Lennon, Gerrard, Rooney and Heskey tore into Bilic’s men. The tempo was good, the 4-2-3-1 tactics spot-on. Croatia were forced on the back-foot, pummelled by the combinations put together by hungry hosts brimming with quick footwork and fluid movement.

Capello got his major decisions right, relying on the muscular line-leading of Heskey, who typically made chances for others and missed them himself in a memorable first period, and giving the pace of Lennon a chance. Shaun Wright-Phillips, poor against Slovenia, did not even make the bench. The ruthless Capello was immediately vindicated. Lennon did more in five minutes than Wright-Phillips had in 45.

Croatia have choked on English vapour trails before in this qualifying campaign, on the chaos caused by a dashing raider called Theo Walcott in Zagreb. Here it was Lennon, surely pushing David Beckham further out of the World Cup picture, giving Croatia’s defence nightmares with a flying start that the watching Usain Bolt must have admired.

The Tottenham attacker got the party started early, speeding past Nikola Pokrivac and gliding past Josip Simunic, who inexplicably tripped him. The defender who clattered Walcott badly in Zagreb did not need to challenge Lennon, who was running across goal, heading into a thicket of Croatian defenders.

Penalty. No question. No need for Uefa intervention. And no chance of Vedran Runje saving, Lampard placing the ball expertly into the net.

England were rampant, Gerrard and Rooney interchanging to the bemusement of the visitors. Gareth Barry, embodying England’s mood, let fly from 25 yards, denied only by Runje.

Wembley loved it, thrilling to the buccaneering adventure of the men in white, admiring the discipline, the intelligent way Capello’s players kept their shape. Enjoying England’s football so much, the fans forgot to boo Eduardo. Briefly.

Saturday’s disjointed, uninspiring friendly performance against Slovenia was forgiven. The sparring was over. This was for real and England relished the competitive edge. John Terry, commitment personified, led by example. Lampard and Barry shielded the back-line diligently.

One became two after 18 minutes via a goal that showed England have not lost their "Englishness’’ under Capello whatever Bilic might believe. Two Merseysiders, Rooney and Gerrard, linked up effortlessly in midfield, men from the same city on the same wavelength, the Liverpool captain soon sweeping the ball wide to Lennon.

This time, Lennon varied his approach, taking two touches as Gerrard made his move into the box. With his third touch, Lennon lifted over a cross which Gerrard headed firmly in across Runje.

As Wembley celebrated England’s second, there continued to be so much to much to admire in Lennon’s contribution, notably the way he darted back to help out Glen Johnson, dispossessing Daniel Pranjic, frustrating Croatia.

The scoreboard looked good but it could have carried a tennis score by the break. Runje, the excellent Lens keeper, saved Lampard’s fizzing 30-yard free-kick, parried shots from Lennon and Heskey before diving at Heskey’s feet.

Some defensive lapses momentarily stained England’s second-half play, Johnson getting the wrong side of Eduardo, placing his hands on the Arsenal striker’s shoulders and pushing him in clearing. Bilic went ballistic but the Spanish referee, Alberto Undiano Mallenco, proved unyielding.

Johnson soon demonstrated why Capello rates him highly, running on to Gerrard’s firm pass, eluding Pranjic and cutting the ball back for Lampard to make it 3-0 with a controlled header.

Qualification secure, Capello removed Heskey, who departed to a standing ovation as Jermain Defoe sprinted on, setting Croatia’s tiring defenders another problem.

There was more, marvellously so for England followed by a reminder of defensive frailty. First it Croatia’s rearguard in disarray; Gerrard ushered Rooney down the inside-right channel and the cutback was perfect, hoisted across for Gerrard to make it 4-0.

But then came a moment that will worry Capello: Johnson was caught out, Green saved well from Eduardo but then spilled Dario Srna’s follow-up and Eduardo poached a consolation.

No matter. A horrendous mis-kick from Runje gifted Rooney a chance which he drilled in. And finally Capello’s granite features broke into a smile. First mission accomplished.