England maintain their immaculate 100% record on their travels in a disciplined, if not spectacular, style in Bulgaria's capital Sofia.
Rooney’s double strike, after a first international goal from rookie centre-back Gary Cahill, helped to make this England’s most comfortable away day for two years and ensured they remain in the box seat to win Group G and avoid the play-off lottery.
Even more crucial was the sheer ease with which they turned a potentially tricky night into an effortless stroll – only the disgraceful racism of the home fans blighted the evening.
It was not, by any stretch of the imagination, brilliant or thrilling - it didn’t have to be - but it was utterly professional, clear-cut and, on a gravel-strewn pitch that would have been deemed dangerous for a Sunday-League side, gave a hint that things can only get better.
Of course, it would be stupid to say this was truly meaningful.
There have been far too many false dawns to make that error and, in truth, Bulgaria were even more hapless and wide open than they were at Wembley a year ago.
Yet we have been crying out for a new tactical approach, calmness at the back and a protective shield allowing flexible attacking prowess.
And given the space to exploit, there was a willingness to do exactly that - Theo Walcott, Ashley Young and Rooney floating off each other, making the Balkan side look exactly what they were.
Once the initial home flurry – in reality, little more than a shoot-on-sight policy from Bolton’s Martin Petrov – had been quelled, there was an inevitability about proceedings.
Cahill and skipper John Terry were twin columns of strength, Scott Parker and Gareth Barry patrolled with eagerness and while Chris Smalling was nervous, there were timely interventions and a refreshing desire to venture forward.
An early goal does make a difference and, after Young teed up Ashley Cole – both received the monkey chants – for a strike deflected wide on 13 minutes, the opener came from the resulting corner.
Young’s delivery was never cleared and when Barry – preferred to the benched Frank Lampard – clipped a clever, angled ball back into the danger zone, Cahill collected on his chest before poking home to mark his first competitive start with a goal.
Capello, angrily gesticulating at any misplaced pass, was far from satisfied, but with Rooney dropping off and generating panic attacks, more goals always seemed likely.
Rooney had only scored once in his previous 14 England games, going back two years, yet by the interval he had grabbed a brace to become only the fourth man – after Michael Owen, Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer – to score 20 competitive goals for the Three Lions.
The first was simplicity itself, with the only player who could have prevented him using that new patch of weave on his bonce to power home Stewart Downing’s in-swinging corner being his own captain
And nobody was even within hailing range of Rooney as he stroked home the second just before the break, after Parker’s brave block – Petrov’s shot smashed him in the face – saw Walcott race from deep before finding Young on his outside to roll beautifully across goal.
So simple.
Downing, grasping his opportunity as he switched across the front line, was unlucky not to get his first England goal in the 55th minute after feeding Walcott, scampering into the box then getting on the end of a delicious cross with a header that glanced the post.
Parker and Walcott went close as England picked off Bulgaria at will and took the sting out of the game, with Rooney inches away from converting substitute James Milner’s cross.
Circumstances are in his favour since the victors in Cardiff will come to Wembley on Tuesday without Craig Bellamy and David Vaughan who are now suspended. England will still be convinced that they need no help from external factors. They may not brag much about felling opponents as poorly equipped as Lothar Matthäus's squad but it is creditable that no mercy was shown until the match was far beyond the reach of Bulgaria.
It is too soon to assume that the manager has hit upon a formidable team selection, particularly since this had always been treated as a night when freewheeling play was feasible. There is work ahead but this win will enhance England's morale.
Source: PA
