Sometimes, just sometimes, I enjoy being proved wrong. Last night was one of those nights.

Where would England’s goals come from with Michael Owen sat at home? Step forward Arsenal's Theo Walcott, who took his chance and crashed in a superb hat-trick in Zagreb Question answered in some style.

Taking into account the Croatians' record at the Makasimir Stadium, coupled with the fact that, confidence-wise, England were flat on the floor, who on earth could have predicted that outcome in such a crucial World Cup qualifier?

It wasn't just about three points, it was about finding belief, creating a platform to build on. A draw away to a country currently ranked fifth in the world would have done that, yet England have come away with so much more.

Going into the opening two games away from home, four points for a struggling England team would have been an excellent return; to come home with maximum points is an outstanding achievement that few would have predicted after the shambolic warm-up against the Czechs and Saturday's nervy victory over Andorra in Barcelona.

Don't you just love it when a gamble pays off? Walcott was magnificent, Emile Heskey impressive up front, holding the ball up, bringing other players into the game and winning a wealth of dangerous free-kicks in the process.

Wayne Rooney, so long absent in an England shirt, also came to life, provider of two and scorer of one. It was a night where it all just clicked into place. I mentioned in an earlier article that Fabio Capello would need big performances from his big players to come away with anything from the Croatia tie. Well, the Italian got more than that; he got a massive performance from his team. It was the reaction the fans had been waiting some time to see.

Six points secured puts England in the driving seat of Group Six early on. However, Capello knows that the road to South Africa is a long one; twists and turns a-plenty lie in wait for England. There is still a lot of work to be done - defensive frailties remain, places are still very much up for grabs as the players still have some way to go to make up for a long period of under-performing.

Ukraine come to Wembley in April next year, but by then England will have hosted Kazakhstan, travelled to Belarus and faced the Germans in a friendly. The picture will be a lot clearer by then.

However that is then, this is now. The hard work starts tomorrow but today is to be enjoyed. Hats off to Capello. In football management you live and die by your decisions; in which case Fabio must feel immortal right now.