England recorded their first Wembley win against a tough and defensive Israeli side.

There was doubt about England boss Steve Mclaren's future as England's head coach, but that was dismissed by Mclaren even if England failed to win their next two crucial qualifiers.

85,000 people, including 5,000 Israel fans making the trip flooded into Wembley waiting for what they all hoped would be a great game.

There was a risky and rather surprising re-call for ex-Liverpool striker Emile Heskey, who was re-united with his former team mate now at Newcastle, Michael Owen.

There was also a start for Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry in place for the injured Owen Hargreaves, who had to pull out at the last minute.

Manchester City hard-man Micah Richards after his impressive display in England's defeat to Germany lat month.

The first half of the game was pretty much all England with Chelsea winger Joe Cole in all the play. England went very close with Emile Heskey firing his shot just over the bar after a great cross from Shaun Wright-Phillips, and well held up by Michael Owen in the opening 10 minutes.

England did find the net after 20 minutes of constant pressure, Joe Cole's superbly floated cross finding his Chelsea team-mate Shaun Wright-Phillips to coolly tuck the ball over the Israeli keeper and in for 1-0.

It could have been 2-0 before half time Michael Owen from close ranged had his first shot saved but put his second effort over the frame of the goal.

The score-line stayed the same until 5 minutes into the second half when Gareth Barry played the ball into Michael Owen who flicked the ball and volleyed the ball in on the turn from 20 yards to make it 2-0 this time.

The constant pressure continued with Joe Cole once again dashing in on goal only to see his angled effort well saved by Aouate. Michael Owen also came close sprinting away from the defense to go round the keeper but Israeli and Chelsea center back Tal Ben-Haim managed to get back and clear the ball off the line.

Eventually England made it 3-0 a corner swung in and Micah Richards rose above everyone to power his header into the top corner, Israeli Keeper Aouate was yellow carded for arguing over the goal, claiming he was obstructed by Michael Owen.

There was a slight disappointment at the end of the game, David Bentley was booed by the England fans when he came on for Shaun Wright-Phillips late in the game. But all in all it was a great game and performance by England and Euro 2008 looks more realistic, but the job isn't done yet.

By: Alex Taylor-Garthwaite, 14