England overcame a poor first half performance to beat Andorra 2-0 in their opening World Cup qualifying match, Joe Cole netting a quick-fire brace in Barcelona.
Cole was introduced as a half-time substitute and needed just four minutes to make an impact on the game after England had laboured against the Andorran part-timers during the opening period at Montjuic.
The Chelsea midfielder's second came soon after and with it came all three points as Fabio Capello got his qualifying campaign for the tournament in South Africa in 2010 off to a satisfying, if not spectacular, start.
With one eye of Wednesday's match in Croatia, which promises to provide a far sterner test for Capello's side, the England boss opted to field a slightly weakened side, Glen Johnson replacing Wes Brown at right-back and Stuart Downing being preferred to Cole on the left.
Jermain Defoe lead the line with Wayne Rooney tucked in behind him in a bid to counter Andorra's expected defensive tactics. The hosts did not disappoint, and David Rodrigo's side set out their stall right from the kick-off, putting at least nine men behind the ball at all times.
Nevertheless, England started brightly with Theo Walcott, handed his first international start in preference to David Beckham, in particular causing problems for the Andorran defence.
The Arsenal midfielder used his pace to good effect early on, pulling back for Frank Lampard to let off an ultimately scuffed strike at goal with just 30 seconds on the clock.
The early signs were good, Walcott himself going close moments later as he burst past Oscar Sonejee only to lift his shot over the bar when perhaps a square ball would have been a better course of action.
And when Johnson crashed a first time shot goalwards which was deflected behind for a corner, the upbeat action on the pitch was reflected in the mood amongst the crowd.
But after Rooney blazed over the bar and Lampard fired just wide of the upright before 21 minutes were on the clock, the atmosphere noticeably began to change.
England lost their initial vibrancy and with it went their accuracy of passing and ability to fashion clear cut chances. Downing pumped a number of aimless crosses into the Andorran penalty box, John Terry was guilty of several misplaced passes and Rooney and Defoe failed to create anything up front.
As the whistles increased in number and volume, Joleon Lescott's two miscued headers from successive Lampard corners did little to ease the pressure on his team-mates or their coach.
Unsurprisingly, just as they had on their last visit to Montjuic, the team departed to the dressing rooms at half-time goalless and to a torrent of boos and jeers from their own fans. Once there, the ambiance cannot have been too much more pleasant but Capello responded by making two changes at the break.
On came Emile Heskey for Defoe and Cole for Downing, the latter proving an inspired switch - within 10 minutes England were two goals to the good, Cole netting both.
The first, on 49 minutes, was all about power as he lashed home a close range volley from Lescott's cushioned lay-off, while the second boasted more finesse, the Chelsea midfielder running onto Rooney's clever through pass to finish neatly under the body of Andorra keeper Koldo Alvarez.
With a two-goal cushion, not to mention the crowd, behind them England visibly relaxed and began to play the ball around with far more confidence, although a third goal ultimately proved beyond them.
Sandwiched in between Cole's strikes, Terry went close to adding another with a low drive into the side netting and on 62 minutes Johnson did have the ball in the back of the net, only to see it chalked off with Cole in an off-side position.
Cole himself could then have registered a hat-trick in stoppage time, but his timing was slightly out and his shot was easily saved by Alvarez.
No matter, three points were already secured and with three goals in his last two games, Cole must surely now be in line to make his first start in five when England travel to Zagreb on Wednesday.
Mike Hytner / Eurosport
