The memorable and impressive victory in Zagreb was a throwback to the days when England truly ruled world football.

Hard, disciplined, composed and patient, Fabio Capello's team finally looked significantly better than mediocre as they took Croatia apart, securing England's best away win in competitive football since Sven-Goran Eriksson's side beat Germany 5-1 in Munich seven years ago.

Much credit for this 4-1 victory must go, of course, to hat-trick hero Theo Walcott but the truth is that the groundwork for this triumph was to be found deep in the team ethic that Capello has been so keen to foster since succeeding Steve McClaren.

The former England manager was twice outwitted by Slaven Bilic in the the European Championship qualifiers but it was clear from the outset last night that Capello's game plan gave Croatia no room for manoeuvre.

Capello wants England to be difficult to beat - a quality that was top of the agenda in the days when Sir Alf Ramsey built the 1966 World Cup winning team.

Well, at the Maksimir Stadium last night, England defended as a unit with Frank Lampard and Gareth Barry both protecting a back four that was rarely troubled by a nation widely tipped to claim the automatic qualification place from this group.

Although not always appreciated by England followers, Lampard demonstrated his class last night.

His defensive contribution was significant, his link-up play outstanding and the decision to disallow the goal he scored, the culmination of a sweeping passing movement, was very harsh.

Praise, too, is due for Wayne Rooney, who played a proper supporting role alongside Emile Heskey.

The Wigan striker is never going to score goals regularly for England - five to date in 48 appearances - but he gives the attack a focal point, holds the ball well and has a physical presence that attracts the kind of challenges that earn free-kicks around the penalty area.

Rooney blossomed in Heskey's shadow, creating and scoring, and, most important of all, keeping his position rather than wandering aimlessly about the pitch.

Last night he and Heskey provided the cutting edge in the orthodox 4-4-2 formation favoured by Capello. This is the formation that most England coaches eventually realise best suits England's natural style of play.

With Heskey and Rooney at the front, Joe Cole and Walcott on the flanks and Lampard and Barry holding the midfield, England presented the solid, purposeful kind of line-up that challenges the opposition to break them down - typical of the Ramsey era.

They kept their shape and discipline and in 19-year-old Walcott had a wild card that Croatia simply couldn't cope with.

His brilliant hat-trick will prove to be the defining moment in his career and may, of course, mean that we are unlikely to see much more of David Beckham.

Capello was, quite naturally, thrilled by England's margin of superiority. And relieved.

After the Czech Republic and Andorra performances, he asked us to reserve judgement.

He obviously knew something the rest of us didn't. That's why they pay him £6million a year.