Group Six Azerbaijan 0 England 1: There are footballers who respond to a foul night in the way that other men bask in the sun. As the winter wind scoured the pitch and the mercury cowered in the thermometer, it was victory as usual for England but not in the customary manner.
Sven-Goran Eriksson's team, protecting Michael Owen's goal, could only be as neat as unpredictable conditions and frozen feet permitted. This, particularly in a second half where Azerbaijan pushed downfield, put the emphasis on men who would detest football if it ever became a summer sport. Nicky Butt, for instance, was instrumental in ensuring Carlos Alberto's side scarcely had a chance. Azeri moves cracked like thin ice.
With a second win on foreign soil to follow the defeat of Poland, England have developed control of Group Six by moving on to 10 points. In addition to having talents denied to the other contenders, Eriksson has a broader squad. They could play in a variety of ways and were well-equipped to tough it out in Baku.
This was a much firmer display than those given when, say, England scrambled to 2-1 wins over Slovakia and Macedonia en route to Euro 2004. Jermaine Jenas fitted in as if he had been designed for the responsibilities on the right of the minimalist three-man midfield.
This, however, was not only his first start with England, but also his debut in international competition. For 71 minutes, he showed athleticism and was prudent on the ball. It seems likely Jenas found it easier to embrace a downbeat night such as this than the suspended David Beckham would have done.
With Frank Lampard as intent as ever on imposing himself, Eriksson's trust in a reduced midfield was vindicated. If the Swede felt a twinge of disappointment it will have arisen from the shortage of chances despite the abundance of forwards.
The Tofik Bakhramov Stadium may well get a plaque as the place where the normally brazen Wayne Rooney first appeared subdued. There would be no difficulty in picking out an incident here or there that highlighted his technique, but there was hardly any exuberance.
Just before the interval, a pass-back to the goalkeeper saw Azerbaijan concede a free-kick to the left of the goalmouth. On this occasion, Rooney could do no more than slam it into a pack of players. When he did hit a 30-yarder from another set-piece, with nine minutes remaining, Jahangir Hasanzade pushed it away comfortably.
Owen, of course, can claim the evening as his own. It is premature to declare he has come back to his best, but his worth was not to be questioned here or against Wales last Saturday. That should be considered a starting point for a man who now goes back to prove himself in Madrid.
In the 22nd minute, England moved the ball well from Gary Neville on the right to his fellow full-back Ashley Cole on the other flank. The cross was deep and put Owen at an advantage as he rose to meet it with a header that found the net after clipping the body of Hasanzade.
Earlier the goalkeeper had leapt to his right to push wide an attempt by Lampard that had deflected off Owen. It was like a parody of the incident that ended, after long and sober consideration, with the Chelsea midfielder being credited with the opening goal against Wales.
Owen, though, was to give everyone something else to focus. With Rooney staying fairly deep and Jermain Defoe, after a sprightly start, dropping from sight there was a reminder the Real Madrid man is England's senior striker. He now has 28 goals from 65 appearances.
Azerbaijan, by contrast, posed little threat at all even if Anatoly Ponomaryov had an appealingly old-fashioned 1970s aspect as a long-haired midfielder who likes to go on rangy runs. He did not get far enough with them, usually checked before he could slice open the back four.
Rio Ferdinand attended well to any stirrings by the mediocre forwards and Paul Robinson had one significant contribution. The goalkeeper was decisive, blocking with his feet, when Samir Aliyev challenged for a loose ball at a 51st-minute free-kick.
England took a second consecutive clean sheet, doing so with little difficulty, even if Sol Campbell was far from his best. He has served Eriksson so well the sort of lapse here that led to a booking for Nicky Butt will not be held against him. All the same, with John Terry and Ledley King around, Campbell will have to be at his best to retain his status. If that makes him pensive, Eriksson can reflect contentedly England could be bound for a higher level.
AZERBAIJAN: Hasanzade, Hajiyev, Sadygov, Amirbekov, Shukurov, Kerimov, Emin Guliyev (Ilgar Gurbanov 75), Kamal Guliyev, Ponomarev, Nabiev (Abdullayev 79), Aliyev (Gurban Gurbanov 59). Subs Not Used: Makhmud Gurbanov, Mekhtiev, Abbasov, Mamedov. Booked: Kamal Guliyev, Sadygov.
ENGLAND: Robinson, Gary Neville, Ashley Cole, Butt, Ferdinand, Campbell, Jenas (Wright-Phillips 72), Lampard, Rooney (Joe Cole 84), Owen, Defoe (Smith 55). Subs Not Used: King, James, Terry, Hargreaves. Booked: Rooney, Ashley Cole, Butt.
