After scraping past Andorra (maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but it wasn't pretty) England face their first real test of Group 6 against Croatia.
Slaven Bilić's side beat England twice during qualification for Euro 2008 and Wednesday's match will give the first clear insight into how far England have progressed under Fabio Capello.
The new Premier League season may only be a few weeks old, but England will have to be sharp if they want to leave Zagreb with a result that sets the tone for their campaign.
Several key players will be under the microscope:
David Beckham - The suspicion is that Theo Walcott's inconsistency against Andorra will see the former captain return to England's midfield in Zagreb. Beckham still delivers a pinpoint cross (a huge improvement on the woeful Stewart Downing), but aging legs mean he's unlikely to stretch the Croats and his lack of stamina could expose England's right flank to the counter-attack.
Frank Lampard - Lampard is the focal point for many of the current criticisms directed at England's star players. More than most, the Chelsea midfielder has struggled to replicate his club form at international level and suffers from the never-ending debate over his ability to partner Steven Gerrard in the centre of England's midfield. With Gerrard injured, and the workmanlike Gareth Barry in his place, Lampard has the perfect opportunity to prove his doubters wrong.
Wayne Rooney - Still the golden-boy of English football, but it's some time since Rooney lived up to his early promise. A man for all seasons at Old Trafford, Rooney's England performances have suffered as he's lost his penchant for driving at the heart of opposition defences and shooting on sight. Rooney "The Provider" is an excellent all-round player, but he's far less productive and fun to watch to watch than the swashbuckling striker of 2004.
John Terry - Though his place in the team is beyond doubt, Terry's captaincy will be under close scrutiny and his leadership will be vital in the partisan atmospheres of Zagreb and Kiev. Capello's choice of Terry over Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard - players who lead by their example more than their words - will be vindicated if Terry can marshal his backline to keep clean sheets away from home.
Fabio Capello - A draw against Croatia would be a fantastic result for Capello and would serve to draw a line between his reign and his predecessor's calamitous time in charge. England's next two games - at home against Kazakhstan and away to Belarus - are very winnable and a favorable result in Zagreb would set England up nicely for the road ahead.
Tell us who you think has the most to prove on Wednesday. Answer our new North Poll (in the right sidebar) or comment here.
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