Croatia against England

Great support from the Croatian fans for their team. For a team that had not lost here before that's a nice way to behave.

Brown on the overlap. Everyone wants to get in on the act. England playing with confidence for the first time for four years or so. Then it was Rooney. Now it's Walcott. And Rooney is still there.

105 caps for Beckham. He may overtake Bobby Moore's outfield record but that will surely be it.

Out with the new, in with the old. Beckham in for Walcott. On the night he's probably lost his place for good. And rightly so.

Now David James gives us a view of his talents. He comes rushing out to smash into an attacker. Srna can only loop over. Good thing it's 4-1, Jameo.

Walcott takes the plaudits but Rooney was the creator supreme there.

But here it comes. Theo Walcott is the hero of all England. Lovely control from Rooney, even better ball. Walcott, in from the wing, cuts in and scores his hat-trick. 4-1 to England!

Lampard shoots rather too tamely. A waste.

Corluka brings down Jenas. Free-kick to England.

Heskey gets on to the end of a Brown cross. His header loops over. Heskey has had one of his better nights.

Ten minutes of pain to come? Maybe. A big change from Lampard's 'non-goal' and Mandzukic's strike.

But here we see that it's not quite over. Srna battles to take the ball down. Nice pass across to Mario Mandzukic who passes it past James. Terry claims a foul. Referee says that's a goal. 3-1 to England now.

Croatia not able to play and that has been the key. No 3-5-2 nonsense to catch out England.

But no, denied. Lovely linking play as England pass nicely. Heskey's nudge on Simunic saw it chalked off. Well, well, well, that would have silenced all the doubters. Even me. But it didn't count.

Lampard!!!!

That was met with muted applause. Rooney now enjoying himself as he passes around and links in a style that reminds of Paul Scholes. Maybe this is the game to kickstart his season.

Olic off. Mario Mandzukic on.

England play keep-ball. The ole, ole - escuse the lack of accent - chant is in full flow. Ashley Cole the target of a great move. His ball palmed away.

Beckham warming up. Heskey may be the man to go. Steve Bruce may not be happy with his injury.

Champagne stuff as Rooney pings the ball to Walcott, who in turn volleys to Brown. You didn't get that stuff under Steve McClaren.

Jenas fouls Corluka, his new team-mate at Spurs. This game doesn't seem to have much left in it.

The stadium emptying out. Croatia aren't used to this.

Kazakhstan await on that date. And this is perhaps why Capello has been confident in his charges.

Heskey tries to get a shot in. Total confidence oozing from England. They probably can't wait for the next game now.

England rampant. Rooney in the ascendancy. The doubters will be put to one side for a minute.

And here's why...Croatia's defence falls apart. Enterprise from Cole to Jenas. The Spurs man looks up and the ball reaches Rooney at the penalty spot. He smashes into the net with unerring power. 3-0 to England!

Off comes Niko Kovac and on comes Nikola Pokrivac. No Kovac presence for Croatia. A good thing for England.

Now Barry gets a shot. Wide.

Heskey fouls Kovac, who decides to make a meal of it. Perhaps thinking of his brother's antics.

There we saw the best of Rooney and the best of Walcott. Has Capello hit on a formula here?

Superb from England. Rooney and Lampard link. Good ball to Heskey, who flicks to Rooney. He could have shot but then the ball out wide to Walcott who fires in again from the right. 2-0 England!

Olic fouled by Terry. Croats want a card. Getting riled....

Lampard in with a tackle. He's improved greatly since the early stages.

Croatia now being hounded by England. They take off Petric. On comes Dario Knezevic, a defender. Damage limitation the order of the day for Bilic.

Cole is still bleeding. And will take no further part. He'll be lucky to play this weekend.

Joe Cole is still down. A sub looks to be coming on for him. Jenas looks likely.

It's red. And fully deserved. You cannot do that. Kovac had to go. Simunic is lucky to stay also. Croatia have lost their heads.

Robert Kovan clatters Joe Cole with a flying elbow. Blood bursting everywhere. A nasty incident. Cole stays up and then goes down. Kovac carded...what is it?

Heskey nearly gets to a speculative Brown cross. England getting chances now.

Lampard, at last, smashes a free-kick with purpose. Pletikosa palms away and Ferdinand was lurking.

Rooney and Heskey links well. And then Simunic cuts inside to foul Rooney. Should have been a yellow; a red for Simunic as he's already been booked. Poor refereering.

Olic out on the left is crowded out. James gets it but only throws it back to Croatia.

Walcott chases a long ball but just fails to get there.

Ashley Cole fouled by Srna as he swivelled. Yellow card.

Free-kick. Lampard's kick aimed for Heskey who could only foul a defender.

Off we go. Can England get a win? It would be unprecedented in this stadium for any team in a competitive game.

And England go into the dressing room with a 1-0 lead. Theo Walcott the hero as Capello's gameplan looks to be paying off. Forty-five minutes to go.

Ratikic will take this. And wallops it with some power. But no precision.

Ratikic is fouled as he goes on a skilful run. Walcott's tackle knocked him over.

Croat crowd booing away as the ball is with James.

Rooney gains revenge by having a go at Corluka. Testy stuff here. But enough for England.

He proves that by doing Heskey this time.

Walcott back on. Hurrah. That was cynical from Simunic, who's a dirty sod and no mistake.

Rooney clears that as part of the wall. If only he could as useful up front.

Rooney gets back. Too far again and fouls Srna. Free-kick to Croatia.

Walcott looks groggy...oh dear. Bad news for England if he doesn't come back.

Walcott makes a tremendous burst, beats two and, as he gets clattered by Simunic, plays it to Rooney. Good ball in is cleared. Simunic is booked and Walcott is down. Mission accomplished for the Croats?

Croatia now play the ball around in an effort to get settled. It's not been easy for them to do so.

Srna fouls Ashley Cole. Croatia are frustrated.

Long hoof from James is flicked down by Heskey to Rooney. The United man's best work came as a defender which will no doubt be picked up by the press pack.

A strange half in which England have played the lesser football but been more threatening. If Croatia had a Davor Suker or Alen Boksic they'd be very dangerous.

Barry taken down by Modric in midfield. The Villa man looks as though he will be OK.

Barry tries to get Walcott away but not this time. That's been the plan and it's worked.

Ratikic wins a corner from Brown. But the kick from Ratikic is poor and drifts behind. A slowing of the pace.

England fans in full voice now.

Rooney blocked off in the box. Croatia break. Breathless stuff here.

Ball headed into the air. James goes out to it. Nowhere near the punch. Petric's shot is lashed into a wall of players. Kovac blocked off James but Croatia obviously have done their homework on the sometimes wayward one.

Croatia free-kick after a Joe Cole foul on Srna. Heads up now.

Now Walcott again gets possession in the danger area. Cuts inside and Pletikosa has to palm away. Well, he's made an impact now alright.

Well done, Theo. Poor show, Pletikosa. Capello joy.

I spoke far, far too soon. Ferdinand breaks. Given to Rooney. His ball breaks off a defender to Walcott and he lashes a cross-shot past keeper Pletikosa and into the net. 1-0 to England!

Walcott heads out a long ball. He's not been at the races the young man.

Petric fouled by Barry. But no booking.

Best yet from disjointed England.

Rooney's ball pinged out to Walcott. Volleyed cross. Heskey under it until he clashes with Simunic. Penalty claim. Looked like both were pulling.

England have the ball! But Barry loses it in isolation.

Heskey forced to chase some neat Croat passing. England in the doldrums we've seen so many times before.

Rooney now clears the corner. Get up front!

Rooney stops Srna this time. What he was doing there is another matter.

Cole cock-up. Olic heads on for Srna. His cross is saved by a Terry lunge. Poor from England.

Heskey's flick to no-one because Rooney comes deep to look for the ball. Lessons not learned.

Lampard plays a poor ball. He is having another bad game. And I'm not just saying that. He has not hit a white shirt yet. Prove me wrong, Frankie.

Rooney and Heskey isolated. But you knew that.

The home team now passing it around. Barry forced to play back to James.

Terry saves England by coming across a Corluka charge. Better from Croatia.

Croatia break. Olic cuts inside to fire a shot that is blocked. Modric prompts but England come away with it.

Poor delivery. Rooney nearly makes something of it with a flick but it spoons into Pletikosa's hands.

Another England free-kick. Needs to be better.

Srna takes. James flaps. As per usual. Corluka gets two attempts but can only hit the side-netting. Close....

Simunic stops Walcott in full flow. Ivan Rakitic wins a corner. The voices are being heard now.

Crowd is quieter. All good for England. Though Brown had to clear when Olic looked to be in space.

Heskey wins a corner. Joy down the right-hand side. If Walcott could calm down then England could profit. The corner is again wasted.

Free-kick for England. Bent in from Lampard. Nodded on but Pranjic was wise to it. England enjoying possession here of sorts. Bitty but the decisions and dead-balls are being dominated.

Beckham sits on the bench. From LA to Zagreb.

Ferdinand again with the long - and wrong - ball. He doesn't do it for United. A lack of options would seem to be the issue here.

Hoofed for Rooney from Ferdinand. Suddenly breaks for Walcott from a Lampard snap-pass. A miskick and Heskey fouls the keeper. Better from England. Maturity may have profitted there.

The corner was worse and England have to start again. Nervy.

It was weak but deflected out for a corner.

Free-kick chance. Lampard to hit...

Ashley Cole attacks but is outnumbered. Modric bursts. The crowd is up for this. Srna cuts inside. And Pranjic gets a shot in. James collects at the second opportunity. Croatia weaving their patterns already.

High foot from Olic. Free-kick boomed towards Walcott but headed away.

Corluka down the right. Terry steps in. Rooney can't collect the clearance. Good noise from the Croat crowd.

An early clash between Heskey and Petric and referee Lubos Michel steps in.

So the referee gets us underway. Early England possession and there's a chorus of boos.

Croatia's song is given a belting out too. Their players are full of national pride. And look up for this, England's toughest match in their qualifiers.

The teams are out and lined up for the anthems. Booing to ensue? Let's see. It's 'God Save The Queen' first. John Terry likes singing this one. And he gives it a right belt.

Capello's biggest test - as a national team boss - awaits. Join us for kick-off.

No Kranjcar for Croatia but in comes Rakitic who was very impressive during the Euros.

Croatia: Pletikosa, Simunic, Robert Kovac, Corluka, Pranjic, Rakitic, Petric, Nico Kovac, Srna, Modric, Olic. Subs: Runje, Krizanac, Mandzukic, Pokrivac, Knezevic, Leko, Klasnic.

Croatia are ready for England and this is their team:

Wes Brown in for Johnson and Ferdinand is back for Lescott, who drops out of the 16.

Capello going for it here, one feels. Plenty of attacking talent. Can they profit in Zagreb?

The team news is in and the headlines are that Walcott is retained and Joe Cole gets a start too. Defoe is replaced by Heskey as England field the team that won them the points against Andorra.

England team to play Croatia in World Cup qualifying group six tonight: James; Brown, Ferdinand, Terry, A Cole; Walcott, Barry, Lampard, J Cole; Rooney, Heskey.

Join us at 2000 BST for England's crunch clash against Slaven Bilic's Croatia. Revenge is on the agenda.

Lampard!!!!

That was met with muted applause. Rooney now enjoying himself as he passes around and links in a style that reminds of Paul Scholes. Maybe this is the game to kickstart his season.

Olic off. Mario Mandzukic on.

England play keep-ball. The ole, ole - escuse the lack of accent - chant is in full flow. Ashley Cole the target of a great move. His ball palmed away.

Beckham warming up. Heskey may be the man to go. Steve Bruce may not be happy with his injury.

Champagne stuff as Rooney pings the ball to Walcott, who in turn volleys to Brown. You didn't get that stuff under Steve McClaren.

Jenas fouls Corluka, his new team-mate at Spurs. This game doesn't seem to have much left in it.

The stadium emptying out. Croatia aren't used to this.

Kazakhstan await on that date. And this is perhaps why Capello has been confident in his charges.

Heskey tries to get a shot in. Total confidence oozing from England. They probably can't wait for the next game now.

England rampant. Rooney in the ascendancy. The doubters will be put to one side for a minute.

And here's why...Croatia's defence falls apart. Enterprise from Cole to Jenas. The Spurs man looks up and the ball reaches Rooney at the penalty spot. He smashes into the net with unerring power. 3-0 to England!

Off comes Niko Kovac and on comes Nikola Pokrivac. No Kovac presence for Croatia. A good thing for England.

Now Barry gets a shot. Wide.

Heskey fouls Kovac, who decides to make a meal of it. Perhaps thinking of his brother's antics.

There we saw the best of Rooney and the best of Walcott. Has Capello hit on a formula here?

Superb from England. Rooney and Lampard link. Good ball to Heskey, who flicks to Rooney. He could have shot but then the ball out wide to Walcott who fires in again from the right. 2-0 England!

Olic fouled by Terry. Croats want a card. Getting riled....

Lampard in with a tackle. He's improved greatly since the early stages.

Croatia now being hounded by England. They take off Petric. On comes Dario Knezevic, a defender. Damage limitation the order of the day for Bilic.

Cole is still bleeding. And will take no further part. He'll be lucky to play this weekend.

Joe Cole is still down. A sub looks to be coming on for him. Jenas looks likely.

It's red. And fully deserved. You cannot do that. Kovac had to go. Simunic is lucky to stay also. Croatia have lost their heads.

Robert Kovan clatters Joe Cole with a flying elbow. Blood bursting everywhere. A nasty incident. Cole stays up and then goes down. Kovac carded...what is it?

Heskey nearly gets to a speculative Brown cross. England getting chances now.

Lampard, at last, smashes a free-kick with purpose. Pletikosa palms away and Ferdinand was lurking.

Rooney and Heskey links well. And then Simunic cuts inside to foul Rooney. Should have been a yellow; a red for Simunic as he's already been booked. Poor refereering.

Olic out on the left is crowded out. James gets it but only throws it back to Croatia.

Walcott chases a long ball but just fails to get there.

Ashley Cole fouled by Srna as he swivelled. Yellow card.

Free-kick. Lampard's kick aimed for Heskey who could only foul a defender.

Off we go. Can England get a win? It would be unprecedented in this stadium for any team in a competitive game.

And England go into the dressing room with a 1-0 lead. Theo Walcott the hero as Capello's gameplan looks to be paying off. Forty-five minutes to go.

Ratikic will take this. And wallops it with some power. But no precision.

Ratikic is fouled as he goes on a skilful run. Walcott's tackle knocked him over.

Croat crowd booing away as the ball is with James.

Rooney gains revenge by having a go at Corluka. Testy stuff here. But enough for England.

He proves that by doing Heskey this time.

Walcott back on. Hurrah. That was cynical from Simunic, who's a dirty sod and no mistake.

Rooney clears that as part of the wall. If only he could as useful up front.

Rooney gets back. Too far again and fouls Srna. Free-kick to Croatia.

Walcott looks groggy...oh dear. Bad news for England if he doesn't come back.

Walcott makes a tremendous burst, beats two and, as he gets clattered by Simunic, plays it to Rooney. Good ball in is cleared. Simunic is booked and Walcott is down. Mission accomplished for the Croats?

Croatia now play the ball around in an effort to get settled. It's not been easy for them to do so.

Srna fouls Ashley Cole. Croatia are frustrated.

Long hoof from James is flicked down by Heskey to Rooney. The United man's best work came as a defender which will no doubt be picked up by the press pack.

A strange half in which England have played the lesser football but been more threatening. If Croatia had a Davor Suker or Alen Boksic they'd be very dangerous.

Barry taken down by Modric in midfield. The Villa man looks as though he will be OK.

Barry tries to get Walcott away but not this time. That's been the plan and it's worked.

Ratikic wins a corner from Brown. But the kick from Ratikic is poor and drifts behind. A slowing of the pace.

England fans in full voice now.

Rooney blocked off in the box. Croatia break. Breathless stuff here.

Ball headed into the air. James goes out to it. Nowhere near the punch. Petric's shot is lashed into a wall of players. Kovac blocked off James but Croatia obviously have done their homework on the sometimes wayward one.

Croatia free-kick after a Joe Cole foul on Srna. Heads up now.

Now Walcott again gets possession in the danger area. Cuts inside and Pletikosa has to palm away. Well, he's made an impact now alright.

Well done, Theo. Poor show, Pletikosa. Capello joy.

I spoke far, far too soon. Ferdinand breaks. Given to Rooney. His ball breaks off a defender to Walcott and he lashes a cross-shot past keeper Pletikosa and into the net. 1-0 to England!

Walcott heads out a long ball. He's not been at the races the young man.

Petric fouled by Barry. But no booking.

Best yet from disjointed England.

Rooney's ball pinged out to Walcott. Volleyed cross. Heskey under it until he clashes with Simunic. Penalty claim. Looked like both were pulling.

England have the ball! But Barry loses it in isolation.

Heskey forced to chase some neat Croat passing. England in the doldrums we've seen so many times before.

Rooney now clears the corner. Get up front!

Rooney stops Srna this time. What he was doing there is another matter.

Cole cock-up. Olic heads on for Srna. His cross is saved by a Terry lunge. Poor from England.

Heskey's flick to no-one because Rooney comes deep to look for the ball. Lessons not learned.

Lampard plays a poor ball. He is having another bad game. And I'm not just saying that. He has not hit a white shirt yet. Prove me wrong, Frankie.

Rooney and Heskey isolated. But you knew that.

The home team now passing it around. Barry forced to play back to James.

Terry saves England by coming across a Corluka charge. Better from Croatia.

Croatia break. Olic cuts inside to fire a shot that is blocked. Modric prompts but England come away with it.

Poor delivery. Rooney nearly makes something of it with a flick but it spoons into Pletikosa's hands.

Another England free-kick. Needs to be better.

Srna takes. James flaps. As per usual. Corluka gets two attempts but can only hit the side-netting. Close....

Simunic stops Walcott in full flow. Ivan Rakitic wins a corner. The voices are being heard now.

Crowd is quieter. All good for England. Though Brown had to clear when Olic looked to be in space.

Heskey wins a corner. Joy down the right-hand side. If Walcott could calm down then England could profit. The corner is again wasted.

Free-kick for England. Bent in from Lampard. Nodded on but Pranjic was wise to it. England enjoying possession here of sorts. Bitty but the decisions and dead-balls are being dominated.

Beckham sits on the bench. From LA to Zagreb.

Ferdinand again with the long - and wrong - ball. He doesn't do it for United. A lack of options would seem to be the issue here.

Hoofed for Rooney from Ferdinand. Suddenly breaks for Walcott from a Lampard snap-pass. A miskick and Heskey fouls the keeper. Better from England. Maturity may have profitted there.

The corner was worse and England have to start again. Nervy.

It was weak but deflected out for a corner.

Free-kick chance. Lampard to hit...

Ashley Cole attacks but is outnumbered. Modric bursts. The crowd is up for this. Srna cuts inside. And Pranjic gets a shot in. James collects at the second opportunity. Croatia weaving their patterns already.

High foot from Olic. Free-kick boomed towards Walcott but headed away.

Corluka down the right. Terry steps in. Rooney can't collect the clearance. Good noise from the Croat crowd.

An early clash between Heskey and Petric and referee Lubos Michel steps in.

So the referee gets us underway. Early England possession and there's a chorus of boos.

Croatia's song is given a belting out too. Their players are full of national pride. And look up for this, England's toughest match in their qualifiers.

The teams are out and lined up for the anthems. Booing to ensue? Let's see. It's 'God Save The Queen' first. John Terry likes singing this one. And he gives it a right belt.

Capello's biggest test - as a national team boss - awaits. Join us for kick-off.

No Kranjcar for Croatia but in comes Rakitic who was very impressive during the Euros.

Croatia: Pletikosa, Simunic, Robert Kovac, Corluka, Pranjic, Rakitic, Petric, Nico Kovac, Srna, Modric, Olic. Subs: Runje, Krizanac, Mandzukic, Pokrivac, Knezevic, Leko, Klasnic.

Croatia are ready for England and this is their team:

Wes Brown in for Johnson and Ferdinand is back for Lescott, who drops out of the 16.

Capello going for it here, one feels. Plenty of attacking talent. Can they profit in Zagreb?

The team news is in and the headlines are that Walcott is retained and Joe Cole gets a start too. Defoe is replaced by Heskey as England field the team that won them the points against Andorra.

England team to play Croatia in World Cup qualifying group six tonight: James; Brown, Ferdinand, Terry, A Cole; Walcott, Barry, Lampard, J Cole; Rooney, Heskey.

Join us at 2000 BST for England's crunch clash against Slaven Bilic's Croatia. Revenge is on the agenda.