England secured a morale-boosting 3-1 win over Mexico in a pre-World Cup warm-up at Wembley on Monday, but were nowhere near as convincing as the scoreline may suggest.
With both sides looking shaky defensively, England enjoyed the benefit of some good fortune and some kind refereeing to win with goals from Ledley King, Peter Couch and Glen Johnson.
Guillermo Franco got Mexico?s reply.
?I?m happy with the result,? said England manager Fabio Capello.
?I studied the games and I know that Mexico is good in ball possession and technically. It was not easy to win the ball back.
?I learnt a lot about some positions on the pitch.
?I think we have to press more to win back the ball. A lot of teams play this? it?s a different style.
?For me it?s very important to press the ball and win back the ball quickly.? As he had said he would last week, Capello left out the Chelsea players who had featured in the FA Cup final, giving them a few additional days rest.
Significantly, despite speculation Wayne Rooney might be used as a lone forward with Steven Gerrard just behind him, England stuck to the formation that had proved so successful in qualifying.
It was Crouch, though, rather than Emile Heskey, who led the line, while Theo Walcott got the nod ahead of Aaron Lennon on the right.
As so often, the Arsenal man never quite had the composure or quality of delivery to make the most of the opportunities his pace created.
England began uncertainly, Michael Carrick misplacing a number of passes, and King losing Franco early on, allowing the forward space for a shot he sliced just over.
But it was England who took a 17th-minute lead. Gerrard, sporting a head-bandage following a clash with Efrain Juarez, sent in a left-wing corner, and Crouch headed back across goal for King to nod in.
Mexico?s domination continued. Leighton Baines misjudged a bouncing ball, allowing Giovani dos Santos to craft a opening for Carlos Vela but Rob Green made a fine save low to his left.
The West Ham keeper was well-beaten on 31 minutes, though, as Carlos Salcido, having seen his initial effort blocked by James Milner, curved a shot against the outside of the post from the edge of the box.
As unexpected as the first goal, though, a second arrived after 34 minutes.
Oscar Perez tipped a Rooney header onto the bar from a Gerrard cross, Crouch was there to bundle the ball over the line, He was offside and seemed to nudge the ball in with his hand, but the goal stood, meaning he pulled level with Kevin Keegan on 21 goals for England.
Mexico eventually got the breakthrough their play deserved in first-half injury-time.
Rafael Marquez was unmarked to head goalwards from a right-wing corner, and although Baines cleared off the line, Franco poked in the rebound.
Thoughts of a wobble, though, vanished two minutes after half-time, as Johnson wandered in from the right touchline and bent a left-footed shot into the top corner.
Still Mexico pressed, with Dos Santos particularly impressive.
There was less conviction about them having conceded the third, though, and England, with Rooney, Gerrard and the substitute Jermain Defoe working neat triangles, looked the more likely to score.
As against Egypt in their last friendly, England survived an uncomfortable opening to win by a convincing margin.
?I?m not concerned,? Capello insisted. ?It was really important to know were we are now physically and mentally after a long season.
?When we played on the counter-attack we were really dangerous but we can?t just play on the counter-attack.? Rooney had a late chip cleared off the line, but even a 3-1 flattered England.
