England fourth power

By atomizing Croatia (5-1), England's Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, who scored twice each, has validated his ticket for the summer in South Africa. This will be the fourth World Cup place for the English, the thirteenth in total. The selection of Fabio Capello could be content with a draw. But the English are proud of and intended to avenge the insult against a team from Croatia who had exited the race for Euro 2008.

While Portugal, Argentina and France still struggling, England was ensured. And even reassured. The selection of Fabio Capello will go well in South Africa this summer. And no play for tourists.

Eight wins in as many matches in England was never really troubled in these playoffs. 31 goals for, 4 against. The teammates Wayne Rooney dominated group 6 which had yet look like a trap. With Ukraine, Croatia, even Belarus, the qualifying rounds have been wrong. The Kazakhstan and Andorra, which complement the group, seemed out of reach. Finally, it is England who was out of reach. European best attack, best goal average of the continent, if the qualifying English waited the 8th day, only because the Croats have, somehow, given the shock.

Eight games, eight wins

But on Wednesday, England was decidedly too high. As throughout these playoffs, too. It must be said that the troops were the Three Lions lift before the Wembley clash. This same Croatia that had closed the doors of Euro 2008 with teammates David Beckham. The men came checkered win in London (2-3), eliminating the English race Austro-Swiss. Captain Terry had also warned before the meeting in The Guardian: "This defeat is still on my stomach. I wake up in the middle of the night, thinking always that thing. No one speaks of revenge, but I am sure if you ask every player, this memory is always present. It was worse when sitting in the stands, knowing that I could not do anything. It is a chance for us to fix it for ourselves for the fans and the nation. "

Goals from Frank Lampard (7th, 59th), Steven Gerrard (18th, 66th), Wayne Rooney (78th) therefore washed the indignity of 2008. And how! Faced with a Croatian team reduced (Modric and Corluka were notably absent), the English XI concocted by Fabio Capello has largely dominated the first half before finishing with a flourish. "It's great. We had some of my shots but it was important that we feasts tonight. We are qualified but we know there is more to come. Today we did what that the manager was waiting for us, "explained soberly John Terry after the meeting.

With this qualifying campaign and a demonstration against Croatia, Capello's England emerged as a favorite at the world title this summer. It will take on the Three Lions in South Africa.

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