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Fabio Capello will become the first England manager in history to register a 100 per cent qualifying record if his team maintains their winning streak in the final four World Cup matches.
It's more than 50 years since England last completed World Cup qualifying campaigns with 100 per cent records and in those days the national team were managed by committee.
England won all their qualifying ties for the 1950 and 1954 World Cups but on both occasions the tournaments were based on the old Home International Championships and involved matches against Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
England's first manager, Sir Alf Ramsey, enjoyed the advantage of not having to qualify for the 1966 and 1970 tournaments, when England were first hosts and then defending champions and no boss in modern times has negotiated a qualifying campaign by winning every game.
The 4-0 win in Kazakhstan was England's sixth in a row and it is likely that Capello's men could secure maximum points in the remaining four fixtures - home to Andorra, Croatia and Belarus and away to Ukraine.
The visit to Ukraine in October is the most difficult and Capello's record-chasing team may not be helped by the fact that a win might not be essential. Qualification will be almost certain if England beat Andorra at Wembley on Wednesday but three more points would be needed to guarantee a place in the finals in South Africa next year.
The mood of confidence within the England squad has grown appreciably since Capello (left) succeeded Steve McClaren as manager 15 months ago. In a total of 14 matches his team have been beaten just twice - both friendly defeats in France and Spain.
Capello has clearly restored England's credibility and the inevitable win over Andorra will see his team installed among the favourites for the World Cup next summer.
