Theo Walcott: Greed is good

England came into tonight's accessory in the Maksimir Stadium in Croatia with the history and the formbook stacked against them. Before the game, the Balkan nation has never lost a World Cup or the Fife Uefa Euro qualifying game at home and the last meeting between the two sides ended in embarrassment for the Three Lions.

A little less than two years ago, a header by Eduardo and a freak own goal from Gary Neville gave Slaven Bilic one side the 2-0 victory as England stumbled on the way to Austria and Switzerland. A fatal 3-2 defeat at Wembley last November did little to help confidence and when the two sides were taken together in the preliminary draw in Durban just four days after the party, it appears that the fate of laughs heart at the expense of England.

However, tonight the registration books were rewritten. For the first time as an actor and a director, Bilic tested defeat against England. For the first time in 31 games, Croatia lost at home, giving four in the process. And for the first time, Theo Walcott scored a goal.

The Arsenal forward did not stop at one, however. No, he added a second and third in the second half, making him the youngest player ever to score a hat-trick for England and he cree that a newly found selfish streak helped him grab the goals that led to success on 4 -1. All this in just his second start for his country.

"The first two were very similar," smiled. "I tend to cross the ball enough, so I decided to be a little greedier this time. I was fortunate to be supplied for each of the goals Wayne Rooney, who was absolutely brilliant tonight.

When you play for England you have to give 100 percent. The manager has given me this opportunity, but I have to prove myself in every game and continue to improve
Theo Walcott cree that can get better and better for England.

"I always have to take their chances. When you play for England you have to give 100 percent. The manager has given me this opportunity, but I have to prove myself in every game and continue to improve.

Before the game, the 19-year-old was chosen ahead of David Beckham on the right flank and Fabio Capello justifies the decision to score in the 26 th, 59 th and 81st minutes.

Even though Walcott was the name that hits the headlines in the English media tomorrow morning, the talented son was anxious to point out that this is a team effort. "There were 11 stars out there tonight - all played well," he continued. "We showed everyone that we are a strong team.

"It shows how we are together, we've been together for ten days and we became stronger as a unit to do so. We played a good football tonight, scoring some big goals. In our day we can beat anyone. But we are not going to let carried away by this - we just have to maintain this. "

Rooney praise

The architect of three goals Walcott, Wayne Rooney, was full of praise for his team-mate teenagers after the match. Rooney enjoyed its best performance England for some time, as links with Walcott and Emile Heskey because of the Croatian defence plenty of problems.

The couple were in the England squad for the 2006 Fifa World Cup ™ when Walcott was selected by Sven-Goran Eriksson, despite not playing in the Premier League for Arsenal. Walcott did not make a single appearance in Germany, but Rooney cree that experience has kept him in good place.

"Theo is great," he said. "The gives us something different. He's probably the fastest player I've seen and although he shows the vision of what we can do is take its objectives very well tonight.

"He can be brilliant. Sven [-Goran Eriksson] saw his talent and was brave enough to select him for the 2006 World Cup. In the past two years have been a bit of a roller coaster for him and I hope it can win a place in the Arsenal team.

"I am delighted for the fans. They came out in numbers in both of our games and we are happy to give them a performance like this, especially in Croatia we are denied a place in the euro. It was a bit of revenge."