England triple is McClaren treat

Beckham provided two devastating crosses for first Peter Crouch and then Michael Owen after Joe Cole had broken the deadlock with a classy strike.

The Real Madrid midfielder's bravura performance was all the better considering he picked up an early knock which led to his departure after 68 minutes. But by then the job was done.

Beckham first threatened in the sixth minute when he sent a 20-yard free-kick curling a couple of yards wide, and his sweeping passes continued to cause panic with Frank Lampard and Ledley King both having half-chances.

In the 37th minute England broke the deadlock as Cole, who until then had been having an iffy game, put McClaren's side ahead. Wayne Bridge's long throw was headed on by the leaping Crouch and Cole controlled the ball on his chest, at the same time turning past Dmitri Kruglov before rifling a half-volley past Mart Poom.

Vladimir Voskoboinikov nearly ruined all that good work after seizing on to a through-ball just before the break, but Paul Robinson came charging out to clear.

With nine minutes gone in the second half, Beckham produced a pass of absolute genius to set Crouch up for England's second goal, which settled any remaining nerves.

Picking up possession on the right, Beckham looked up and then curled the ball around the central defender Ragnar Klavan to offer Crouch a gloriously tempting target. The Liverpool striker made no mistake either, heading over Poom for his 12th goal in 19 internationals.

Beckham produced the goods again in the 62nd minute. Lampard's raking cross-field ball dropped at his feet and Beckham bent a cross to the far-post where Owen stabbed home before running to congratulate the creator. By now Beckham was hobbling badly and soon came off to a standing ovation from the England fans.

The one shadow cast in this land of the midnight sun came when Crouch was booked late on for a needless foul on Lindpere meaning he will be suspended for the Israel match at Wembley on September 8. But a satisfying night for McClaren finished positively with John Terry clearing off the line from substitute Tarmo Kink in injury-time.