England 3 Mexico 1: Wembley farewell as Crouch impresses Capello

The Tottenham Hotspur striker took his tally of goals to an impressive 21 from 38 international appearances as the Three Lions' final warm-up game on home soil ended in victory over Mexico.

Ledley King and Glen Johnson also got their names on the scoresheet in an entertaining game that saw both sides pose sufficient attacking threat to suggest neither will be taken lightly by opposing managers in South Africa.

But in terms of giving England's favourite Italian food for thought ahead of the all-important opening World Cup group game against the USA on June 12, it was Crouch who surely gained the most from a warm night in north London.

Having had to play second fiddle to Emile Heskey for much of Capello's reign, a rare start for his country afforded the Spurs man a chance to impress.

And Crouch took it in fine style with a goal and an assist in just 45 minutes to underline his case for inclusion when the 'real' action gets underway next month.

Others who will have been happy with their shift will be Steven Gerrard, the Liverpool midfielder playing a major role in England's first two goals and then coming within a whisker of finding the net during the second half with a curled shot.

A scoring return for King, the defender who due to injury had last played for his country against Estonia three years ago, was also a positive along with Leighton Baines looking a capable understudy to the rested Ashley Cole.

One area of concern for Capello, however, will have been the ease with which Mexico opened up his side during an end-to-end first half.

Only the reflexes of Robert Green, who like Crouch must surely have cemented his place in the starting line-up, and a post meant the South Americans went in at the break trailing 2-1.

The Mexicans certainly started the brighter with Guillermo Franco, after turning King with ease, firing wide and then Ricardo Osorio's cross flashing across the six-yard box with two on-rushing team-mates unable to apply the finishing touch.

For England, it had not been the most promising of starts but all that changed on 17 minutes courtesy of a well-worked corner routine that saw Gerrard pick out Crouch at the back post.

The Spurs striker then headed back across goal for King, by now unmarked, to flick past Oscar Perez in the visitors' goal.

Capello's men doubled their advantage on 34 minutes, Gerrard again the creator with a floated cross that Rooney powered goalwards.

Perez did remarkably well to block only for the ball to strike the crossbar and loop upwards for Crouch, who replays confirmed had been standing offside when Rooney met the initial cross, to bundle over the line from close range.

Being two down was harsh on Mexico, who had been frustrated twice in quick succession just a couple of minutes earlier by Green, the goalkeeper denying Carlos Vela with a stunning one-handed save, and a post after Carlos Salcido had curled a shot round a defensive melee.

Green was then called into action to keep out another snapshot from Vela after the home defence had been slow to react to a swift counter-attack.

Mexico did finally gain some reward for their enterprising attacking play in first-half stoppage time when West Ham striker Franco finished from close range after Baines had blocked a bullet header from Rafael Marquez on the line.

Few in the 88,638 crowd could begrudge Mexico a goal but within 80 seconds of the restart Glen Johnson had restored the home side's advantage with a sublime shot after exchanging passes with Theo Walcott.

Rooney then came close to adding a fourth with a chipped effort that Francisco Javier Rodriguez cleared off the line before the same player brought a direct run from Aaron Lennon to a crude end with a cynical trip.

Baines was unable to make the Mexican pay but that did not prevent the home fans rising at the final whistle to bid their heroes farewell ahead of what England hopes can be a successful World Cup in South Africa.

England: Green (Hart 46); G Johnson, Ferdinand (Carragher 46), King, Baines; Walcott (Lennon 77), Carrick (Huddlestone 62), Milner (A Johnson 85), Gerrard; Rooney, Crouch (Defoe 46).

Mexico: Perez; Juarez, Salcido, Rodriguez, Aguilar (Barrera 52); Torrado, Osorio, Marquez, G Dos Santos (Blanco 72), Franco (Hernandez 46), Vela (Guardado 62).

Referee: M Toma (Japan).

Who impressed last night?

Richard Sutcliffe runs the rule over England's World Cup hopefuls and what their role should be versus the USA on June 12.

Ledley King (Defender): Recovered from shaky start to surely book place on plane with decent display that was capped by a goal.

Verdict BENCH

James Milner (Midfield): Competed well and was always going to be in the final 23 due to his versatility.

Verdict BENCH

Michael Carrick (Midfield): Not had the best of season for Manchester United and it showed against the Mexicans.

Verdict STAYING HOME

Peter Crouch (Striker): Scored one, created one. Looks much better option than Emile Heskey to partner Wayne Rooney.

Verdict START

Theo Walcott (Right wing): Searing pace but still lacks final killer ball but still better option than Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Verdict BENCH

Leighton Baines (Left-back): Persistence led to corner for opening goal and understudy to Ashley Cole.

Verdict BENCH

Robert Green ('keeper): Left exposed several times in first half but responded magnificently to prove he is England's No 1.

Verdict START