England 2 Liechtenstein 0
With two goals and, just as importantly, no costly bookings, it was missionaccomplished for England at Old Trafford as they moved within a point ofqualification for the Euro 2004 finals.
That the point must be achieved in Istanbul is still a cause for some concern,but the fact that David Beckham and Steven Gerrard should be there to contest itis a measure of considerable relief.
Both of them put their participation on the line against Liechtenstein, when abooking would have led to a one-match ban, but the midfield duo kept their headswith restrained, mature displays.
Even though England again struggled to make an impact in the first-half, aseven-minute scoring burst after the restart - with Michael Owen and WayneRooney both on target - put the result beyond any doubt.
That enabled Eriksson to remove Beckham and Gerrard with considerable haste,although it was still Rooney who was unmistakably the man-of-the-match.
While Beckham predictably took centre-stage back at Old Trafford, especiallyin an all-white strip reminiscent of Real Madrid, the Everton teenager sparkledas the attacking point of the midfield diamond.
Having scored his first international goal four days earlier, he followed itup with his second amid an effervescent all-round display that deservedly earnedhim an ovation to match Beckham's.
Eriksson's main dilemma now centres around where to fit Rooney into hisline-up, especially when Paul Scholes is fit again, but his raw talent surelycannot be overlooked, even in Istanbul.
Eriksson will then be looking for England's ninth consecutive victory, withhis side having now eclipsed Sir Alf Ramsey's mark of seven with - Rooney aside- this rather formulaic win.
The main trouble early on for England at Old Trafford was that, for all theirfirst-half efforts, they failed to find a way past Liechtenstein's massed ranksand were twice denied by the crossbar.
Firstly, when Wayne Bridge made one of several penetrating runs and delivereda deep cross which Beckham, at full stretch, powered against the woodwork from atight angle.
Then, just three minutes before the break, Beckham himself crossed for JamesBeattie to chest the ball down and fire his shot against the underside of thebar.
Otherwise, England were frustrated by an assured display from Jehle, somedetermined defending, too little width and their own predictability, withBeattie's aerial power rather under-used.
Just over a minute after the restart, Gerrard whipped in a low cross and,having left his marker rooted to the spot, Owen stooped to head home.
Six minutes later, it was 2-0. Owen played a superb crossfield ball over toBeckham, who matched it by picking out Gerrard unmarked inside the penaltyarea.
His cushioned knock-down was directed towards Rooney, who again made nomistake with his first-time effort.
Joe Cole soon followed to replace Rooney, but while England dominatedthereafter, the urgency had been removed from the game.
Owen and Beattie were both denied by Jehle's fine reflexes, while Hargreavesalso shot just wide and Eriksson's side were also rather guilty ofover-elaboration.