England book World Cup qualification

England are through to the 2010 World Cup finals as two goals apiece from Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard enabled them to overpower Croatia 5-1 at Wembley.

Lampard and Gerrard took full revenge after being two of only three survivors from the England side beaten by Croatia in a Euro 2008 qualifier at the same stadium two years ago.

Wayne Rooney added the fifth goal after Arsenal striker Eduardo had netted a consolation effort for the visitors.

The recalled Aaron Lennon was too fast for Josip Simunic as he sped into the box after seven minutes only to be brought down by the Croatian defender and Lampard kept his nerve and drove home from the spot.

Eleven minutes later, Lennon was at it again. Hugging the right touchline, then delivering a perfect far-post cross for Gerrard, who headed it straight back where it had come from, right into the far corner.

Gareth Barry and Lampard forced Vedran Runje into flying stops and Lennon raced clear onto Rooney's return pass, only to fluff his shot.

In first-half stoppage-time, Heskey latched on to a defence-splitting Lampard pass but got the ball stuck under his feet.

England made it three as Johnson's cross enabled Lampard to steer a header into the corner and Gerrard then looped home a header from Rooney's intelligent cut-back.

Eduardo tucked home a consolation for Croatia after Robert Green had twice denied him and the visitors must now overhaul Ukraine in the battle to be runners-up.

Rooney tapped home after a howler from Runje to increase England's tally to nine in two matches against a Croatian team they were not expected to finish above when the draw was made in January last year.