Tonight:
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Watching England's final qualifying games for major tournaments has become synonymous with tension over the years. What made last night's contest against Belarus stand out from past struggles was that it was certain players' places, rather than the team's, at stake for next year's World Cup.
The front of the programme may have read England v Belarus but with the country securing their place at the tournament a month ago, it may have been more fitting if it had said Peter Crouch v Carlton Cole or David Beckham against Shaun Wright-Phillips.
The next time England play a competitive game will be at the World Cup in South Africa in eight months' time and many stars who were at Wembley won't be in Fabio Capello's plans by then.
Two years ago, when England wrapped up their failed Euro 2008 campaign with a dismal home defeat to Croatia, the TV cameras kept focusing on the tense and frustrated figures in the crowd. The same thing occurred last night except it wasn't the fans looking anxious, it was the players who didn't get to play.
Pictures of Crouch celebrating his two goals were soon cut short by an image of Emile Heskey on the bench, trying to hide his concern at his rival's success with an unconvincing smile.
Similarly, when keeper Ben Foster pulled off a superb save from Sergei Omelyanchuk in the second half, the sight of David James squirming on the sidelines was broadcast. In fact, the cameramen seemed to be more intent on trying to track down gloomy faces of England footballers in the stands rather than capturing what was happening on the pitch.
Capello had invited all those involved in the qualifying campaign who weren't in his squad to face Belarus, to attend as guests instead.
A number didn't even show, like Sunderland striker Darren Bent, and judging by the look on Michael Owen's face, he wished he hadn't either as he saw chances of a recall diminishing further.
England's performance as a team may not have shone too brightly, yet some individuals will have taken great satisfaction from being able to impress on the pitch.
This was a game where the men in white could play themselves in or out of contention for a spot in Capello's 23-man squad, even though the Italian is adamant he will leave it late in the season before making any final decisions. The England coach not only made six changes to the team that lost to Ukraine on Saturday, he also fielded a more orthodox 4-4-2 formation.
Crouch clearly did his chances no harm at all by netting two goals. Paired with Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor up front, he kept up his work-rate for the whole game and was rewarded with the kind of goal-poaching that eludes Capello's first-choice target man Heskey.
Agbonlahor provided the cross for Crouch's first goal in the third minute, yet his overall contribution was disappointing and he barely used his pace to good effect.
It looks like the World Cup will come too soon for him, unlike Crouch, who has edged ahead of Carlton Cole in the pecking order.
His second goal was also a tap-in after Cole's shot had been parried by keeper Yury Zhevnov, but importantly he was there to convert it in the first place.
Capello was still not full of praise for the former Liverpool hitman at the final whistle, probably because his hold-up play wasn't too strong.
Foster's hopes of being included next year, albeit as third-choice keeper behind James and Robert Green, looked doomed after his poor form for Manchester United this season.
But his display was much more assured against Belarus and his one-handed stop from Omelyanchuk was world class.
It was all the more significant because England were leading 2-0 at the time and a goal would have given the spirited visitors hope of securing a draw.
England had doubled their lead through Wright-Phillips five minutes earlier, but his strike disguised another mediocre showing at this level.
In his defence, the Manchester City star played out of position on the left wing yet one would have expected to see more effort and desire considering what was at stake, especially as Arsenal's Theo Walcott and Joe Cole, of Chelsea, are sure to do just that when they return to full match fitness.
Beckham (right) took his number of caps to 115 and while his 35-minute showing didn't deserve the man-of-the-match award, the veteran midfielder showed how desperate he is to play in South Africa with an energetic display.
The best player on the field was actually Manchester City's Gareth Barry, whose sublime passes helped set up Crouch's goals and made the gulf in quality between him and Michael Carrick as holding midfielders look even bigger.
