After a night when the world of football was brought to a standstill by Theo Walcott's dazzling hat-trick, the British media have responded by hailing the coming of age of the Arsenal teenager.

The fresh-faced 19-year-old proved that although he is slight of frame, his belief is rock-solid, as his performance in Zagreb helped England record their most memorable victory since the 5-1 defeat of Germany in Munich seven years ago.

The first hat-trick of Walcott's career brought back memories of Michael Owen's impact on the international scene and while his display settled players far older and more experienced than him, the media believe Walcott's performance may now signal the end of David Beckham's international career.

"The Beckham era is over, the Walcott era has begun," Henry Winter said in The Daily Telegraph. "The Arsenal attacker was at his irresistible best, tormenting Croatia with his pace and eye for goal." He adds: "Beckham may have replaced him, but the No 7 shirt belongs to Walcott now."

In the Daily Mail, Paul Hayward echoes those thoughts. "They staged a graduation ceremony for Walcott, who will become the poster boy for academy graduates who are constantly being told there is a superior youngster just touching down at Heathrow from France or Brazil.

"All this while consigning David Beckham to the shadowlands. Capello always promised it would be a meritocracy. Last night he turned it into a Theocracy as well, promoting a 19-year-old to a starting berth and demoting the increasingly statuesque Beckham to the role of late replacement for the hero of the play. Against all known odds, Capello chose the Zagreb fortress to gamble on Walcott's youth, energy and audacity."

"Hero Theo leads rout by three lions", reads The Sun, adding: "The 19-year-old - whose goals were his first on the international stage - has proved his right to the No 7 shirt usually worn by Beckham. Capello had the courage to select Theo Walcott in a role so long occupied by David Beckham and my, how that gamble paid off."

In The Independent, Sam Wallace says: "It was two years later than scheduled but when Theo Walcott marks his coming of age for England in this sort of style, frankly, who cares about the wait?". While The Guardian says, "The 19-year-old has become the contemporary version of Michael Owen on that occasion in Munich, ending the seven-year vigil for a hat-trick by an England player in a competitive match."