England 2 Hungary 1: Gerrard spares England with stunning brace

Trailing to a dubious goal against a Hungary team ranked 62nd in the world, their horrible World Cup hangover seemed set to linger right into the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.

But, on the night Fabio Capello signalled the end of former captain David Beckham's international career, the man currently wearing the armband burst forward, scoring twice in four minutes to give the Three Lions a victory they so desperately needed.

With decent performances from Theo Walcott, Kieran Gibbs and Bobby Zamora, who went agonisingly close to a debut goal, and an excellent save from Joe Hart to deny Zoltan Gera an equaliser at the climax, there were enough positives to retain some optimism that the attempt to atone for this summer's World Cup debacle can get off to a positive start against Bulgaria and Switzerland next month.

In ending Beckham's international career in such a low-key manner, Capello could almost have been encapsulating exactly how he sees England moving forward from this point. There will be no blaze of glory, not even if his side go on to reach the finals in Poland and the Ukraine with eight wins from eight without conceding a goal.

No one will be building anyone up, or talking about a golden generation.

What went on in South Africa was simply too depressing to be forgotten, the well of goodwill has completely run dry.

That is not to say there is no feeling. The sparse amount of booing – John Terry, Ashley Cole and Wayne Rooney were sole targets until the whole team got it in the neck after a goalless first-half – is evidence of a genuine desire for the Three Lions to succeed.

If the goal Rooney thought he had scored inside three minutes had been given, it could have been a decent night for the Three Lions.

Rooney raced onto Gerrard's through-ball and lashed the ball home from the edge of the area.

Unfortunately Rooney was half a yard beyond the final man and the 'goal' was disallowed.

Thereafter it was time to take solace in individual performances.

Had Walcott produced the incisive running on show in the opening 45 minutes in those warm-up games against Mexico and Japan, he would surely not have been left in tears as the squad departed.

It was Walcott's cut-back that presented fellow winger Adam Johnson – also axed from Capello's provisional group of 30 – with a clear sight of goal.

Johnson was in enough space but snatched at the opportunity and drove it over the bar.

Former Crystal Palace goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly tipped Gerrard's curling free-kick over the bar just past the half-hour and Rooney's piledriver was deflected wide after that.

But half-time brought the second seismic shift for England following Beckham's announced removal from the scene.

Once Capello had made his three substitutions – giving debuts to Michael Dawson, Kieran Gibbs and Zamora – he was left with seven out of his 11 players having a grand total of 21 caps between them.

Such inexperience should render results irrelevant in a friendly.

But it is never that way with England.

So, when Dawson's slip allowed Gera to set an attack in motion that ended with Phil Jagielka turning the ball into his own goal, the boos started again. Had those supporters been watching a replay of the incident, they might have turned their ire on the French officials who, in contrast to their colleagues from Uruguay this summer, saw the ball crossing the line when Dawson had in fact cleared.

Such inconsistencies could not have been lost on Capello, who sat impassively in his seat and remained there, even after Gerrard had weaved his magic. The last time the Liverpool captain raced away after scoring for England, it was right at the start of the World Cup, when his goal against the United States had given his team the perfect start.

Last night, there was real venom in his reaction after belting a dipping shot into the Hungary net.

Four minutes later, Gerrard swivelled superbly and tucked home a second. It was the kind of captain's response of which Beckham would have been proud.

Thirty-five-year-old Beckham missed the World Cup through injury but ended up being part of the back-up team in South Africa because of the influence he has over the current group of players.

However, even when he recovers from his Achilles injury, it seems Beckham will not be required for the attempt to reach Euro 2012.

"I say thank you very much for helping me at the World Cup but probably he is a little bit old," Capello said ahead of last night's game.

England: Hart, Glen Johnson, Jagielka, Terry (Dawson 46), Ashley Cole (Gibbs 46), Barry, Lampard (Zamora 46), Walcott (Young 46), Gerrard (Wilshere 82), Adam Johnson, Rooney (Milner 66). Unused substitutes: Loach, Cahill, Carlton Cole, Fielding.

Hungary: Kiraly, Liptak (Komlosi 55), Vanczak (Laczko 46), Juhasz, Szelesi, Vadocz, Dzsudzsak (Koman 46), Rudolf (Priskin 83), Elek (Toth 59), Gera, Huszti (Hajnal 46). Unused substitutes: Fulop, Czvitkovics, Vermes.

Referee: Stephane Lannoy (France).