Rooney steals the show for England

England 2 - Turkey 0

Wayne Rooney stole the show with a performance of astonishing confidence as England rediscovered their passion.

Substitute Darius Vassell and captain David Beckham, with an injury time penalty, were the scorers but it was the 17-year-old Rooney, making his first start for England, who produced a display of skill, energy and bravura to light up this European Championship qualifier.

The result takes England above their chief Group Seven rivals and deservedly so after a hugely-enjoyable game at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland.

Generally, England showed the spirit that has been missing since the World Cup and the other outstanding performer was Sol Campbell, who made an assured return in defence.

Sven-Goran Eriksson had made three changes from the team who beat Liechtenstein 2-0, with Rooney, Nicky Butt and Campbell coming in for Emile Heskey, Kieron Dyer and Gareth Southgate.

Turkey fielded a powerful-looking side with Ilhan Mansiz and Nihat Kahveci, who has made a name for himself with Real Sociedad, up front.

The match kicked off at a frantic pace and amid a tremendous crescendo of noise.

Beckham showed how fired up he was when he picked up a yellow card with less than nine minutes gone - he will be suspended for England’s home game with Slovakia.

Campbell stepped in to deny Ilhan a good shooting chance then Rooney and Beckham both came close.

Steven Gerrard’s cross was dropped by Rustu under some pressure, Rooney fired against Ergun's arm and then Beckham dragged the rebound wide with the goal at his mercy.

Ilhan fired over from tight angle then Campbell glanced a corner wide. Gerrard broke through the middle and found Beckham free on the right.

He picked out Michael Owen on the edge of the Turkish area but the striker missed his shot.

A poor throw by David James saw Yildiray Basturk steal possession, advance to the edge of the box and unleash a low drive that the West Ham keeper saved at full stretch to redeem himself.

Some superb ball-juggling by Rooney was followed by a sweeping ball to Gerrard on the right who fired in a cross only for Owen to miskick.

There was more Rooney inspiration just before half-time when the teenager embarked on a great mazy run into the heart of the Turkish defence.

He slipped a glorious pass inside to Owen who tried to skip past Rustu but the keeper did well to get a hand to the ball.

England began the second half well and Campbell won another corner but his downward header did not have the pace to beat Rustu.

Beckham swung a free-kick into the side-netting then Paul Scholes volleyed against a defender.

Turkey had been pinned back but Nihat had England nerves jangling with a snap-shot which James spilled and Ferdinand was forced to clear.

Rooney burst past Tugay and tried his luck from 25 yards but his effort took a deflection, before Owen limped off in the 58th minute to be replaced by Vassell.

Scholes forced Rustu into a scrambling save then Gerrard headed wide from Beckham’s flag-kick.

The Turkish keeper made a flying save to deny Vassell, then produced more heroics to keep out Beckham’s swerving free-kick.

England kept coming and Rooney fired straight at Rustu from a narrow angle before Nihat tried to relieve the pressure but hardly tested James.

Vassell went past two defenders and fired towards the near post but once more Rustu was brilliant. From the corner, however, England broke his resistance.

The ball broke to Wayne Bridge who hoisted it into the box, Ferdinand beat the offside trap to strike a volley that Rustu saved only for Vassell to steer the rebound home after 75 minutes.

With time running out James produced a quite fantastic save to tip over Nihat’s header that was heading for the top corner.

Then substitute Kieron Dyer, who came on for Rooney, was hauled down by Ergun and Beckham converted from the penalty spot in stoppage time.