England 5 Croatia 1
ENGLAND thumped Croatia to book their place at next summer’s World Cup.
Two goals apiece from Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard and one from Wayne Rooney sealed the Three Lions’ place in South Africa.
Fabio Capello’s side only needed a draw to qualify after Ukraine had been held in Belarus earlier this evening.
There was a great atmosphere at Wembley when England kicked off and Rooney soon won an early free-kick when brought down by Mario Mandzukic.
The Three Lions knocked the ball around in confident style in the early stages and Gerrard had an appeal for handball against Croatian defender Ivica Krizanac turned down on the edge of the visitors’ box.
There was a confident air about England’s play and Wembley erupted after seven minutes when Lampard struck from the penalty spot for the second successive match.
Aaron Lennon was the creator with a mazy run into the area which was ended by Josip Simunic, who could have no complaints with the decision.
Up stepped Lampard to drill a fierce shot past Vedran Runje into the corner of the net.
England were relentless, pushing forward at every opportunity and the visitors were in danger of being over-run.
Croatian goalkeeper Runje did well to deny Gareth Barry minutes later. Rooney’s floated cross was turned back by Lennon to the Manchester City midfielder but his fierce 20-yard strike was turned away by the goalkeeper.
Ashley Cole then made a good break down the left to move on to a ball from Rooney but he had strayed marginally offside.
Croatia threatened for the first time when Darijo Srna’s centre picked out Mario Mandzukic whose shot on the turn flew over the bar.
But after 18 minutes Gerrard doubled the hosts’ lead. The Liverpool skipper spread the ball out to Lennon on the right and then ran into the box to head a cross from the Tottenham winger into the far corner of the net.
It seemed only a matter of time before England added to their lead and Lennon should have made it 3-0 after 35 minutes.
He cut in from the right and carried on running into the box to meet a pass from Rooney but sent his shot wide.
Croatia were being given the runaround by England’s movement and fluent play and Emile Heskey was denied by the feet of Runje with Lennon again the creator.
Lampard then held his head in disgust after firing over the crossbar from a good position inside the area.
The chances continued to flow and Runje saved at the feet of Heskey and needed treatment before he could continue.
Croatian coach Slaven Bilic made a double half-time substitution with Ivan Rakitic and Mladen Petric replacing Olic and Pokrivac.
Petric won an early corner for his side but England goalkeeper Robert Green punched away Niko Kranjcar’s centre.
The home side were almost caught napping by a quick corner from Srna which picked out the run of Mandzukic but he sent his first time shot over the bar.
Croatia were enjoying more possession as they looked to give themselves a lifeline but there were few alarms for the home side.
Glen Johnson did well to get in front of Eduardo and stop him connecting with a Mandzukic cross, with the Croatians appealing in vain for a penalty.
After 59 minutes, Lampard made it 3-0 with his second goal of the game after referee Alberto Mallenco had played advantage when Lennon was fouled by Rakitic.
Johnson picked the ball up on the right and his cross was cut back to Lampard who headed past Runje into the far corner of the net.
Capello then immediately made a change up front, bringing on Jermain Defoe in place of Heskey.
And the re-shuffle reaped quick dividends when England notched a fourth goal eight minutes later, with Gerrard scoring his second goal of the match.
Gerrard found Rooney on the right and the midfielder was on hand to head his looping cross over Runje into the top of the net.
Arsenal star Eduardo then scored a consolation goal for Croatia on 71 minutes after Green fumbled Olic’s close-range shot.
But Rooney capped a memorable win on 76 minutes after Runje’s attempted clearance sliced straight into his path and he made no mistake from just inside the box.