WOOOOOOOO! That was fun. Sorry Wales, I know you've had some injuries and suspensions (not that England haven't), and you're a hell of a lot better than you were 5 years ago, but that was pretty dominant.
England were excellent all over the park. Funnily enough after all the debate over the strikers, Defoe was probably the weakest guy on the team, though he did a few good things even then. Owen played well, I was impressed. If only he could do that every game. And who knows, maybe he will now, we know he can as he did a few years ago.
As for the others, Campbell and Ferdinand are just immense (Ferdinand in particular, best central defensive partnership in the world?), Lampard's got to be one of the best midfielders in the world (6 goals in his last 9 games for England if it goes down as his...even if it doesn't that's absolutely remarkable at international level from a midfielder [hell, it'd be great for a striker]) and Rooney is apparently unstoppable.
You really have to hope Wayne Rooney has a bad game when playing against him, as I don't think you'll stop him otherwise. His touch, his striking ability, his pace, he's good in the air, his awareness of those around him, his dribbling skills and, most of all, his ability to find space...he honestly has it all. He has a
few weaknesses (though they don't really affect his forward play): occasionaly he'll give the ball away needlessly when he's trying to pick out a teammate, his temper can get the better of him, and he makes the wrong choice when attacking (though that one's really rare). He's only 18 though, those are all things he will learn about and get better at as he gains more experience.
Beckham's goal was wonderful. He has this ability, which I rarely see on the field (I can't think of another player who does it in fact right now) to shoot from around the box as if he's taking a free kick. And he does it
all the time. It's a deadly skill, as we saw today.
As for Wales, Paul Jones played really well and kept the score from looking too bad (which it could easily have been), and there were a few good saving tackles and blocks going in. There were a few half chances, but apart from those...not much going on. The decision to play Bellamy on the wing rather than up front bemuses me. I understand that they've used the formation before, perhaps to some success, I'm not sure, but what hope did Hartson have going up against Ferdinand and Campbell?
