That will do for starters in England's European Championship qualifying campaign.

It does not quite tell the whole story because Switzerland were at times abject in their 3-1 defeat in Basle. Almost as inept as Bulgaria last Friday at Wembley when England smashed four without reply.

But, as the saying goes, you can only beat the opposition put in front of you and it would be churlish to deny England manager Fabio Capello any of the credit for a performance which, for long periods, was back to the dominance of those nine victories in qualifying for the World Cup.

The passing was crisp and precise. Players in white shirts actually passed the ball to other players in white shirts, which was not always the case in South Africa.

There was movement and flexibility, too, plus a willingness to work hard, pressing and harrying.

And, of course, there was Rooney showing a remarkable capacity to concentrate in the public glare when all the talk was of his private shenanigans.

Not that Rooney was England's star man. Not this night. That accolade, until he limped off midway through the second half, was Jermain Defoe, the hat-trick hero of Wembley showing again that he can lead an international strike force despite his lack of inches.

That is key for Capello because it allows Rooney to slot into that slightly withdrawn role. Allows England's most creative player time and space to pick out a pass or to turn and shoot.

In short it gives Rooney freedom, the sort he used to get into the six-yard box for the most straightforward of opening goals.

Theo Walcott showed his strength on the ball before feeding it to Glen Johnson down the right and when the cross was whipped in there was Rooney to slide the ball home from close range.

It was no more than a tap-in, but Rooney will not forget it in a hurry. Not just because it came in a week in which the Manchester United star has hit the front pages, more the fact that it was his first international goal in 12 matches and 12 months.

That is an age for a player of Rooney's quality.

Yet it was not just Rooney and Defoe who impressed. There were England players all over the pitch who appeared to be putting in the sort of shift necessary to restore pride and confidence after the World Cup debacle.

Men such as Gareth Barry and James Milner, the latter whose name has become synonymous with industry in a white shirt.

Ashley Cole and Glen Johnson surged down the flanks, Steven Gerrard was the pivot in central midfield, Joleon Lescott and Phil Jagielka were solid in central defence. Accomplished and assured.

And Adam Johnson, who came on after 10 minutes when the unfortunate Walcott was injured, proved that England have a real talent, rounding the Swiss goalkeeper with aplomb for England's second goal.

True, England had a few hairy moments in a second half in which Switzerland'sStephan Lichtsteiner was sent off for a foul on Milner and in which Switzerland teenager Xherdan Shaqiri demonstrated his precocious talent with a 25-yard swerving shot which fairly shot past goalkeeper Joe Hart.

But Darren Bent, having replaced Rooney, eased the pressure, drilling home the third late on.

It brought a rare smile to the face of Capello. No-one could say he had not earned it.