England cruised to an expected and easy 6-0 win over Andorra at Wembley to give Fabio Capello a 100 per cent record in World Cup qualifying.
Two goals apiece from Wayne Rooney and half-time replacement Jermain Defoe and goals from Frank Lampard and Peter Crouch helped the home side to their seventh win in seven Group 6 games.
Rooney's double strike made him the top scorer in European qualification for the 2010 finals in South Africa, with eight goals.
England top their group with a maximum 21 points, 10 ahead of both Croatia and Ukraine.
Industrial action on the London Underground meant that the national stadium was around a quarter under capacity despite almost selling out, but the 57,000 or so present would have been impressed with England's possession and in particular a virtuoso performance from David Beckham, playing in central midfield in the place of the suspended Gareth Barry.
Sitting in the deeper, quarterback-style position he occupied at Milan this season, the 34-year-old midfielder dictated the play in open and set play and will surely be courted by top European clubs once his LA Galaxy contract expires in October.
Portsmouth full-back Glen Johnson - selected despite being one yellow card away from a suspension - also looked composed in attack and defence and was awarded man-of-the-match.
The alleged Chelsea and Liverpool target was involved in five of England's goals, with three direct assists as he operated almost right-winger.
Manchester United forward Rooney opened the scoring on four minutes with a far-post header from Johnson's cross, a minute after hitting the woodwork with a close-range, reflex effort.
Retiring goalkeeper Koldo Alvarez made some good saves but was only at fault for one of England's goals as a part-time Andorra side lent credence to the theory that Europe's football minnows should play pre-qualifying rounds before entering the group stage proper.
It was 2-0 just before the half hour when Johnson again found space on the flank, threading the ball through to Theo Walcott. The Arsenal man dragged the ball back to Lampard who made no mistake with a low finish into the bottom right.
Ten minutes later, Rooney got his second and England's third with a sweet volley into the top right from another Johnson cross and the half-time stats said it all - 83 per cent possession to the hosts and 15 shots to Andorra's sole attempt, a long-range effort straight at the otherwise bored Robert Green.
Capello denied Rooney a hat-trick by bringing Defoe on at the break, while Aston Villa winger Ashley Young was also given 45 minutes in place of Steven Gerrard, who had played an unfamiliar role on the left.
Tottenham striker Defoe did not start especially well, dragging a close-range finish wide of the far post and creeping offside when given a free route to goal by Walcott.
But midway through the second half he scored twice in three minutes to take his England record under Capello to five goals.
First, Beckham played a short corner routine to Johnson, whose excellent cross was headed into the bottom left by the former West Ham and Portsmouth hit-man.
Then Defoe pounced from close range after Koldo made his only error in spilling a long-range Beckham free-kick.
Peter Crouch sealed the win with 10 minutes left, almost embarrassed after he was allowed to scuff the ball past Koldo following a defensive mix-up by the visitors.
Croatia and Ukraine have a game in hand but, even though they four matches left, England are guaranteed a play-off place at least and a win in one of their last three matches will see them qualify for South Africa as group winners.
England cruised to an expected and easy 6-0 win over Andorra at Wembley to give Fabio Capello a 100 per cent record in World Cup qualifying.
Two goals apiece from Wayne Rooney and half-time replacement Jermain Defoe and goals from Frank Lampard and Peter Crouch helped the home side to their seventh win in seven Group 6 games.
Rooney's double strike made him the top scorer in European qualification for the 2010 finals in South Africa, with eight goals.
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