First-half goals from Darren Anderton and Beckham put England firmly in charge and helped ease them through the second period of their final Group G fixture. Colombia go out of the tournament after their second defeat.

The two goalscorers had started the World Cup competing for the same wide mid-field berth but they worked perfectly in tandem as Anderton hit his first England goal since May 1996 and Beckham his first for his country.

Owen and Beckham were used as substitutes in that match but they started the game tonight, after huge public pressure on coach Glenn Hoddle, and the side looked far more inventive and incisive.

There were moments when England's fallibility in defence was exposed by the Colombians' intricate and clever attacking play but the Colombians rarely got close to David Seaman's goal.Both England goals were an example of precise finishing to the Colombians for whom Carlos Valderrama, with his trademark orange frizz, shone fleetingly in mid-field with his flicks and feints.

Anderton struck the first after 20 minutes when he collected a poor headed clearance by Jorge Bermudez, from a Gary Neville cross, and hit a rising shot inside the near post from a narrow angle.

This excellent strike was equalled, if not surpassed, by Beckham's goal. Taking a free-kick 25 metres out, after Leider Preciado had fouled Paul Ince, the recalled mid-fielder produced an arcing shot which cleared the wall and dipped inside Farid Mondragan's right post.

Colombia introduced three substitutes at the start of the second half and matched England for about 10 minutes as English concentration slackened. But Seaman had few worries and England regained the initiative on the hour.