Source: Daily_Mail
Theo Walcott hails hat-trick hero Jermain Defoe as England get off to great start
Theo Walcott was delighted to see Jermain Defoe steal his mantle ofthe last player to score a hat-trick for England, hailinghis team-mate's complete performance against Bulgaria. [LNB]Defoe plundered three of his country's goals in the 4-0 winat Wembley as their European Championship qualifying campaign got offto a flying start. [LNB] Defoe must go on: Jermain Defoe (centre) celebrates with Theo Walcott (right) and Steven Gerrard[LNB] It was the first international hat-trick of the 27-year-old's career, the first by an England player at the new Wembley, and the first treble since Walcott himself went goal crazy in Croatia almost two years earlier. [LNB]'Three fantastic goals and a great finisher,' winger Walcott said of Defoe. [LNB]'Every time he touched the ball, something was going to happen. [LNB] 'Every time he went through on goal, you just thought he'd create something and that's what we want from our centre-forwards, to score goals and get people involved. [LNB]'He managed to do everything. I'm very happy for him.' [LNB]All four of England's goals owed something to a revitalised Wayne Rooney, who shook off the early cobwebs that lingered from his dismal World Cup displays to produce a stellar performance in what was a deep-lying role. [LNB] Three 'n' easy: Defoe (right) fires past Bulgaria's Ivan Ivanov to score his third[LNB] Walcott said: 'He's claiming three and a half assists, I think. [LNB]'Itjust shows what different sides Wayne's got to his game - not just goals. [LNB]'He had a free role. I think that's one of his favourite positions, because he can do anything for the whole team.' [LNB]Rooneyensured a flattering margin of victory for England, who broke with devastating effect after surviving a number of scares last night from their unfancied opponents.[LNB]Goalkeeper Joe Hart was called upon on several occasions and continued to justify his status as his country's new number one, most notably moments before Defoe's second goal.[LNB] On the run: Theo Walcott skips past Stiliyan Petrov at Wembley[LNB]Hailing Hart as 'fantastic', Walcott said: 'He kept us in the game there. If it goes 1-1, it could be a totally different game. [LNB]'It's moments like that in games that changes them.' [LNB]England now head to Switzerland for Tuesday's second qualifier and Walcott believes their tails will be up after last night's win. [LNB]'It should boost us,' he said. 'Tremendous confidence now: 4-0, especially at home, clean sheet. [LNB]'We to go to Switzerland. Do the same things, and I'm sure we'll get the right result.'[LNB]Asked if the team could finally look forward after the debacle of the World Cup, he added: 'We're always looking forward to every game. It's nice to gave a great start, clean sheet, 4-0. It's nice to be top of the board. [LNB]'Just looking forward to Switzerland now on Tuesday.'[LNB] Hat's my boy: Three-goal Defoe vows to be fit for Swiss test after match-winning role against BulgariaJamie Redknapp's England watch: Cole shows the benefits of flying highMARTIN SAMUEL: At last a team that looks like England... what's changed?[LNB] [LNB]
