ENGLAND 2, SLOVENIA 1

BOOTED out of the World Cup squad in 2006, Jermain Defoe has picked the perfect moment to land on his feet.

Back then he was replaced by Theo Walcott, the talented teenager who had yet to kick a ball in the Premier League.

Now, though, Defoe's place is not in doubt - not after his contribution to Fabio Capello's new-look England team.

The Tottenham star is the man of the moment, surging with confidence with goals for club and country.

Yesterday he scored again, leaping off the bench in the second half to drill home a long-range strike.

The Three Lions were already ahead through Frank Lampard's first-half penalty - but this is Defoe's moment.

Croatia come calling in Wednesday's World Cup qualifier and Defoe has surely sealed his starting place.

He has to after this, another energetic performance in an England shirt that was rewarded with another goal.

He even upstaged Wayne Rooney - some feat after another emphatic display by the Manchester United striker.

Defoe rescued England last month in the Amsterdam ArenA, scoring twice against Holland as Capello's team made a stunning comeback in a 2-2 draw.

Even his old boss Martin Jol admitted he was stunned by the player's progress.

This is his moment, forcing his way into the England squad again as they prepare for another major tournament.

They had Slovenia down as a soft touch, a chance to put the oh-no moments that littered last month's friendly behind them.

Then it was all about Rio Ferdinand's dreadful back pass and Gareth Barry surrendering possession as Holland raced into a two-goal lead.

That wasn't the mentality of potential World Cup winners, the elementary errors punished so clinically by Dirk Kuyt and Rafael van der Vaart.

Then it was all about packing in the preparation, spending just 48 hours with the players before the season began.

This time the manager had the best part of a week, with one eye on Slovenia and the other focused firmly on Croatia.

HITMAN - Defoe nets Englands winning goal

This was the dress-rehearsal for the revisit of Slaven Bilic and his Croatia team, the undercard to Wednesday's qualifier.

Then it will be about revenge, but the visit of Slovenia was all about fine-tuning.

Capello has the backbone of a World Cup-winning team, players with the determination to see the job through for their hardline coach.

Now they will need to iron out the mistakes that so nearly cost them against second-rate opposition like Slovenia.

England need little reminding about the moment Niko Kranjcar made a name for himself with Croatia's opening goal at Wembley in November 2007.

Yesterday it was almost the turn of Milovoje Novakovic, exposing England's defence as he latched on to a seventh minute through-ball. Robert Green rushed out to meet him, Novakovic sent him skidding across the surface but his effort was just over the target.

That was a reminder for this England team, a subtle nudge.

Concentration will be key this week, with Capello's players under pressure in front of 90,000 supporters inside the stadium.

SMILES - Defoe takes to the pitch

Glen Johnson - brilliant whenever he raids forward with those bounding runs and vulnerable when a team attacks him - certainly needed a dig in the ribs.

Slovenia were on overload early on, sending Novakovic and Bojan Jokic down the wing to test his patience.

Jokic was electrifying in the opening half-hour - teasing, tantalising and giving England the run-around.

At the same time, it took the Three Lions too long to settle and find their tempo.

They have the ability to pepper the ball across the park, to spray it wide and threaten the opposition with their ability.

They also need the confidence, the killer touch to finish teams off.

Capello has witnessed it enough times - in Zagreb last year when Walcott scored that remarkable hat-trick and again when England beat Germany in Berlin.

That was the New Beginning, the first signs that this team can flourish under his leadership. They are fast turning Wembley into a fortress, unbeaten at the national stadium since that fateful evening against Croatia in 2007.

Rooney is at the heart of things, bursting with pride every time he pulls on the England shirt under Capello. He is a new man, a warrior for United and a world-beater for England.

CONGRATULATIONS - Defoe celebrates with Lennon

Everything revolves around him, with Steven Gerrard feeding those golden boots at every opportunity.

Rooney won England's penalty against Slovenia, though it was a soft decision that should never have been given.

Bostjan Cesar pulled his shirt, Rooney pulled Cesar's in return and then referee Jonas Eriksson gave a penalty.

Rooney threw the ball to Lampard to finish the job from the spot.

Lamps is back in business, a certainty again in an England shirt after some uncomfortable moments under Capello.

Others got their chance yesterday, with Aaron Lennon thrust back into the team for the first time since the 2-1 victory over Ukraine in April.

His form for Tottenham - scoring the winner against West Ham and then Birmingham - has earned him the right to have another crack.

He even left David Beckham in his slipstream, with the LA Galaxy midfielder watching this one from the bench.

Who gets the nod for Wednesday will be an interesting call for Capello, in the same way he will have a decision to make on his strike pairing.

Defoe has been itching for another chance since that Dutch double.

Fresh from Holland, he has scored four times for Tottenham and is in the form of his life.

He wants it and was chasing everything as he attempts to nudge Emile Heskey out of the frame.

Defoe deserved something for his second-half performance. He was fired up and fully-charged after watching England's opening 45 minutes.

He got the goal in the 63rd minute, swapping passes with Lennon and then lashing his shot beyond Slovenia keeper Samir Handanovic.

It took a deflection along the way but there is no deliberating for Defoe.

Just as well, given the mistake that led to Slovenia's goal - scored by substitute Zlatan Ljubijankic five minutes from time.

His effort, headed beyond Robert Green after Joleon Lescott allowed him to beat him to the near post, unsettled England.

They have three days to iron out those defensive flaws before they face Croatia.

Fortunately for England, they have too much up front.

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