Peak performance

A rousing fight-back from England saw them overturn a one-goal deficit to roar home to a 4-2 victory here in Lisbon.

There may well be another couple of Wayne Rooney headlines too because it was his killer instinct, allied to his team-mates’ hunger and passion, that won the day for England.

There was a sense of cautious optimism coursing through the England fans before the game. That caution proved to be prophetic with Croatia striking a crucial early blow through Kovac.

Rapaic swung over a free-kick from the left and, although James acrobatically kept out Zivokic’s effort, Kovac made himself first to the loose ball and prodded home close range.

The pre-match euphoria was gone in an instant.

The tables had been turned. Now it was Croatia who had only to hold onto what they had to move into the last eight.

The onus was on England.

It’s in bad times not good ones, that true character emerges. At that moment, when it seemed their dream might be ripped away from them, England showed they had character. Shedloads of it.

We pushed forward with the kind of attacking dynamism that revived memories of Munich three years ago.

Scholes and Gerrard both had Butina at full-stretch to save their efforts.

England were treading a fine line because another Croatian goal at that stage might have been curtains but Sven’s men kept pouring forward. They simply would not be denied.

There was a huge collective sigh when James got down to safely to collect Prso’s 38th minute effort from the edge of the box.

That sigh was replaced by a roar two minutes later as England hauled themselves back onto level terms.

Owen chased down a throughball forcing Butina into a desperate block, Rooney headed the rebound back into the centre and there, waiting, was Paul Scholes to end his England goal drought.

Ecstasy, yes. Relief, certainly. Both for Scholes and us.

Five minutes before the interval, it was the perfect time to score. But there was still time for more before the half-time whistle.

As Scholes laid the ball into Rooney on the edge of the area you thought to yourself: "He couldn’t, could he?"

Of course he could.

Rooney’s shot swerved both ways and clipped Butina’s despairing hand on its way into the net. Majestic.

Boy, man, whatever he is, he’s sensational.

With Croatia pushing forward, England threatened persistently in the second period. Scholes, with his shooting boots now firmly only, drew a fine save from Butina, and Owen, seeking his own scoring rejuvination was inches out when put clean through by Rooney.

When the roles were reversed, and Owen played Rooney in on 68 minutes, the result was inch-perfect. Rooney ate up the ground and slipped it home with the minimum of fuss.

The papers have been trying to put a price on his head, but how valuable is Wayne now to England?

As the ball hit the back of the net, Sven turned to Steve McClaren and they agreed he’d done his bit. Every England fan stood to acknowledge the striker’s contribution.

Rooney’s job may have been done but Croatia weren’t finished just yet. There were a couple more mini scares to keep us on our toes before Tudor got their second - again from a set-piece - after 73 minutes.

The stage was just left for Lampard to add the coup de grace on 78 minutes, drifting inside past tired Croatian legs to fire home with a firm left-footed strike.

What a find he has been for England. His desire drives his success. In a way, he personifies the best attributes of this team and, best of all, he’s in the form of his life.

England aren’t coming home just yet. The adventure continues against Portugal on Thursday.

Croatia Goals: Niko Kovac 5, Tudor 73

England Goals: Scholes 40, Rooney 46, Rooney 68, Lampard 79