Saturday September 6, 2008; World Cup Qualifier

Andorra 0 England 2

Andorra: Alvarez, Ayala, Txema, Sonejee, Antoni Lima (Fernandez 90), Ildefons Lima, Pujol (Vales 90), Vieira, Silva (Toscano 65), Jimenez, Andorra.

England: D.James, G.Johnson, J.Lescott, J.Terry, A.Cole, T.Walcott, G.Barry, F.Lampard (D.Beckham 79), S.Downing (J.Cole 45), W.Rooney, J.Defoe (E.Heskey 45).

England's first competitive match under Fabio Capello saw them returning to Spain to take on Andorra. Not the most difficult of starts but everyone, Capello included, would have been aware of the scorn poured out at Steve MacLaren's team on the last visit when England went in at half time goalless after a particularly tepid performance.

Capello chose a surprising team which seemed to suggest certain players were being rested for the much tougher test to come in Croatia on Wednesday. Time alone will tell if this was the case.

One of the surprise picks, Theo Walcott, was the star of the early stages as England started with pace and purpose and looked ready to hand the minnows a thrashing.

In the very first minute Walcott was streaking beyond the Andorran defence down the right hand side for a dangerous low centre which eventually bobbled through to the keeper who was caught late by the onrushing Jermain Defoe.

Predictably the Andorran's would make the most of every bit of bodily contact throughout the game as they sought to frustrate and perhaps goad the England team but on this occasion Defoe had definitely been out of order and was fortunate not to receive punishment.

Walcott continued to be England's obvious attacking weapon. Any decent ball knocked in behind his full back saw him speeding clear and he also showed lovely footwork on a couple of occasions to slalom out of apparent dead ends.

The Arsenal flyer wasted the next opening by shooting over the bar from a narrow angle with players lined up in the centre waiting for a cut back but at least he appeared to quickly learn his lesson. Soon afterwards he was pulling the ball back from the byeline only for a defender to intercept at full stretch and then, when Frank Lampard knocked a good ball over the top, he cushioned a lovely lay off into the path of Wayne Rooney whose left footed effort flew woefully off target.

Midway through the half Lampard went close with a decent hit from just outside the box but from that point on England's early promise disintegrated and there was barely a threat on the Andorran goal for the rest of the half.

It was especially disappointing to see the supply of service to Walcott dry up. Here England had an obvious advantage but they were either unable or unwilling to press this home. Now there was no obvious focus to the teams' attacking play and rather than focussing on positives we were left to ponder some obvious negatives.

Defoe struggled desperately to make any impression whatsoever on the packed Andorran defence while Stewart Downing was depressingly unadventurous on the left wing.

Half time brought a predictable chorus of boos which were not as well merited as on our last visit but understandable given the way the performance had petered out so tamely.

Half Time: Andorra 0 England 0

Capello reacted to England's tepid ending to the first half by introducing Emile Heskey and Joey Cole for Defoe and Downing at the interval. One of the replacements was to make an instant and decisive difference and there are no prizes for guessing which one it was.

After four minutes of the second period England won a free kick which was lifted into the box for Joleon Lescott to produce a beautifully cushioned lay off and there was the impish Cole lashing a volley home from ten yards out.

Inspired by this goal England produced another concerted spell of attacking which saw John Terry come close with a good effort from the edge of the box before Cole doubled the lead after England's sharpest move of the game.

Gareth Barry linked well with Rooney who slipped a defence splitting pass through for the darting Cole to flick a low finish past the Andorran keeper.

Just past the hour Glen Johnson was unlucky to see his drive from the edge of the area ruled out for offside against Cole, greedily seaking his hat trick, but then England's attacking ambitions seemed to simply peter out and the last half hour was another exercise in tedium.

Overall this was a highly erratic performance but there were some positives to take out of the game and I think England will travel to Croatia in better spirits after this display.

The obvious positive came in the performance of Theo Walcott although he is by no means certain of keeping David Beckham out of the side to face the Croats.

One thing England have obviously been missing in the past year or two is genuine pace and Walcott certainly provides that vital ingredient. Without him we are a very pedestrian side by international standards.

Full Time: Andorra 0 England 2

England: D.James 5, G.Johnson 5, J.Lescott 5, J.Terry 5, A.Cole 6, T.Walcott 7, G.Barry 5, F.Lampard 5 (D.Beckham 4), S.Downing 3 (J.Cole 8), W.Rooney 5, J.Defoe 4 (E.Heskey 5).

Star Player: Joe Cole

Walcott was excellent in bursts and it was not his fault that his midfield colleagues failed to give him the ball consistently but the decisive contribution was Cole's. His two goals were both expertly taken and his general eagerness to get involved and test the Andorran defence gave everybody a lift.