AFTER bringing Andorra to their knees at Old Trafford on Saturday, Peter Crouch was prematurely compared to Sir Bobby Charlton, England’s record goalscorer, but last night he offered a passable impersonation of another footballing knight, Sir Geoff Hurst.

With a well-taken strike just after half-time, the ball hitting the underside of the crossbar and being adjudged to have crossed the line before being cleared, the Liverpool striker gave England a 1-0 win over FYR Macedonia that they barely deserved, extending his remarkable run to 11 goals in 14 appearances for his country.

On a night when Germany crashed 13 goals without reply past the hapless San Marino, a record European Championship tally, a profitable evening for England was completed by the goalless draw between Croatia and Russia that gives Steve McClaren’s team control of group E, though this scratchy performance pales in comparison with the triumphs of the other home nations. Scotland matched their great rivals’ 100 per cent qualifying record with a 2-1 win over Lithuania in Kaunas, while Northern Ireland secured a brilliant 3-2 victory over Spain in Belfast courtesy of a hat-trick from David Healy.

England’s preparation had been enlivened by a series of gags from their masseur, Billy McCulloch, but no one is laughing at Crouch any more. McClaren considers the 6ft 7in forward, only recently lampooned as a freak, a class act.

“His record is phenomenal,” McClaren said, though the head coach missed the goal because he was making his way back to the touchline from the dressing-room. “He’s such a threat and leads the line very well. He took a lot of stick tonight and didn’t get the decisions from the referee, but stuck at it and took his chance. He’s an opportunist and took his opportunity very well.”

Most of Crouch’s goals have been devalued as rather meaningless efforts against lesser nations, but last night’s contribution was desperately needed as England laboured. The 67th-ranked team in the world did not play like minnows and England were indebted to goalline clearances from the outstanding John Terry and Ashley Cole to preserve their lead.

“It was a test tonight and they came through,” McClaren said. “Teams win football matches away from home in Europe and they played as a team. They defended magnificently, denied Macedonia any clear-cut chances and got the defining moment.

“We knew we’d have to defend very well and knew we’d come under pressure. We withstood that and got the result. The back four, the goalkeeper and John Terry’s partnership with Rio [Ferdinand] were outstanding. John leads by example. I am pleased for him that in his first away game as captain we won.”

England have won all three of their games under McClaren without conceding a goal and that run is unlikely to come under immediate threat. Macedonia should be less of a threat when they travel to Old Trafford at the start of next month, when England will be strengthened by the return of Wayne Rooney from suspension — surely at the expense of Jermain Defoe, who was anonymous last night.

Another England striker to enjoy a good day was Michael Owen, who came through his second operation in Colorado after the anterior cruciate ligament damage he suffered at the World Cup. The Newcastle United striker begins a programme of intensive rehabilitation today in the vain hope of returning before the end of the season, but, with Crouch in this form, his club need him more than his country.