Owen fires England

England striker Michael Owen is in full flight during their Euro 2008 qualifying encounter against Israel at Wembley on Saturday.Photo: AFP

Michael Owen scored one of the finest goals of his international career as England got their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign back on track with a 3-0 win over Israel here on Saturday.
Owen's 38th England goal, a sublime half-volley from 20 yards, was sandwiched between Shaun Wright-Phillips's first-half opener and a Micah Richards header midway through the second period as Steve McClaren's side strolled to their first win at the rebuilt Wembley.
Israel looked desperately out of their depth. But England still displayed sufficient quality to ensure they will go into Wednesday's meeting with Russia here confident of taking another big step towards next year's finals.
McClaren said: "Good performance, good result, now we have to follow that on Wednesday.
"The crowd really got behind the team, they kept us going for 90 minutes - we need that again on Wednesday."
He added: "Shaun Wright-Phillips was under a lot of pressure today. We were disappointed with him last season but he's really come to the boil.
"And what a tremendous goal by Michael."
McClaren's starting line-up, shorn of the injured Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard and David Beckham, had a retrospective air about it.
Owen Hargreaves's failure to recover from a thigh strain allowed Aston Villa's Gareth Barry to make his first start for his country in almost seven years while, Owen resumed his strike partnership with Emile Heskey, recalled after three years in the international wilderness.
Heskey's early contribution offered promise, the Wigan's striker willingness to make himself available to hold up the ball offering England's attacking moves a cohesion that was notably missing in a goalless draw with Israel in Tel Aviv in March.
But there was also an early reminder of why Heskey's previous 43 England appearances had yielded only five goals. Teed-up after Owen had pulled down Barry's ball into the box, he blasted his shot over the bar from 12 yards.
The 10th-minute chance highlighted Israel's defensive deficiences and it took a crude body-check from Shimon Gershon to prevent Gerrard from charging on to a Heskey flick, the Israeli defender picking up a yellow card in the process.
With Heskey going close with a back-post header from Gerrard's corner, an England opener was looking inevitable.
It duly arrived in the 20th minute courtesy of a fine move launched by Gerrard, whose long ball sent Ashley Cole beyond the Israeli back four.
The left-back deftly clipped the ball back into the path of Joe Cole who floated in an angled cross that Wright-Phillips, timing his run around the back of the defence to perfection, volleyed past Dudu Awat from the edge of the six-yard box.
England should have doubled their lead eight minutes before the break, when Owen spurned two opportunities to beat Awat from close range.
Set up by Joe Cole's cushioned lay-off of a Wright-Phillips cross, the Newcastle striker blasted his first attempt into the Deportivo La Coruna goalkeeper's chest and the second high into the stand.
Owen's approach work was of a superior standard three minutes later but Ashley Cole was unable to squeeze his shot past Awat's outstretched left glove.
Israel introduced Toto Tamuz for the second half in the hope the Nigerian striker could unsettle England as he had done briefly in Tel Aviv.
Instead, it was to be Owen who put the outcome beyond doubt with a goal of sufficient quality to ensure his first-half double miss will be quickly forgotten.
Found by Barry's angled pass on the edge of the area, the former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker swivelled on his first touch before unleashing an unstoppable strike that flew beyond Awat's left hand and into the top corner.
Barry was also involved in England's third, delivering the corner that Richards headed past Awat in the 66th minute.
It was the Manchester City's first international goal and capped another energetic, mature display at right-back. Gary Neville must be wondering if he has played his last game for his country.