LONDON (AP): Eight wins in eight games is the perfect way to qualify for the World Cup, especially when it features a 5-1 victory over the team that stopped England getting to Euro 2008.
But England coach Fabio Capello knows he has more to do to turn one of football's biggest underachievers into a World Cup winner.
Capello allowed himself a hint of a smile as he congratulated his players in his walk across the Wembley turf after Wednesday's one-sided victory over Croatia, the second place team in their qualifying group.
Two goals apiece for Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, and a gift for Wayne Rooney after a goalkeeper's blunder, gave the fans plenty to cheer.
But the sloppy passing at the back, the doubts over England's goalkeeping strength and Emile Heskey's wasted chances are still problems facing Capello.
While Glen Johnson is a threat as an attacking rightback, he is a liability when defending.
Same for leftback Ashley Cole. Casual passes by some of the midfielders and forwards could easily have led to conceding goals, and England is way behind its rivals in terms of goalkeeper talent.
Heskey missed two one-on-one chances in the first half while Jermain Defoe, scorer of five goals in his last three England appearances, sat on the bench.
Capello wouldn't commit himself to a prediction about how good England's chances are of winning football's biggest title 44 years after its only triumph.
"There is always the same expectation with the England team," the Italian said.
"It is very high. We have to play to win because we are England. We have one of the best teams in the world. We always have to play with the spirit we did this evening.
"The first target is OK, we have achieved it, we are going to South Africa. We have time now to prepare for the World Cup. I know the problems of playing in the World Cup. We have eight months and it is important no players are injured."
Praise for England's qualification came from Prime Minister Gordon Brown, South African organizers of the World Cup and beaten Croatia coach Slaven Bilic.
"Many congratulations to Fabio Capello and the England team for qualifying for the 2010 World Cup finals with tonight's emphatic win against Croatia," Brown said in a statement released by his office.
"The country looks forward to supporting the team in South Africa next summer." World Cup organizing committee chief executive Danny Jordaan said England's qualification underlined the strength of the Premier League and its global appeal.
"Fabio Capello's side have powered their way to South Africa 2010 and will certainly be a force to be reckoned with next year," Jordaan said.
"They are playing very good football and the team will certainly come to South Africa as one of the tournament's favorites.
"The English Premier League is one of the best leagues in the world and arguably the most followed globally. All the England players are extremely popular in South Africa and a number of them have visited the country with their club teams and with the national team in recent years."
Bilic, whose team beat won 3-2 at Wembley two years ago to stop England qualifying for Euro 2008, has seen Capello's team beat his side 4-1 and 5-1, the first loss being in Zagreb. He believes that an England side on this form could well win the World Cup.
"Based on tonight definitely. But it is not easy to play every game like tonight," he said.
"They missed their first pass after half an hour. It was one-two, one-two. It was perfect. If they manage to play like this then of course they can win it.
"(England) was better in every situation. They absolutely deserved the victory. They were stronger every time, they were faster for one meter at any moment - they were simply better."
i am here.. hope Fabio Capello will bring the England win the WC in South Africa since we all know he have this capability to do so. haha...Gambahteh to my England team.. owenz suppose u !!!!!!! England , u are deserve to be win the WCup
