THE hype surrounding England has reached fever pitch.

But unless Sven-Goran Eriksson sorts out his team's defending, today's adrenaline rush will be short-lived.

There is plenty to be positive about after reaching the quarter-finals of a European Championships for the first time on foreign soil.

England finally started to create chances last night and look to have a queue of potential goalscorers.

At the head of that queue is Wayne Rooney, who appears to be the only person who doesn't realise he is a national hero.

Frank Lampard justified his regular place with a great finish, Paul Scholes ended his three-year international goal drought and Michael Owen looked a lot sharper.

David James was much improved, although he still caused English hearts to flutter once when he spilled a cross and had to make amends with a fine save.

There is still much room for improvement. Owen was pivotal in England's crucial opening goal, but he never looked like scoring and that remains a worry.

Behind him, the midfielders were sound and busy, but will need to improve on Thursday night against Portugal.

David Beckham remains a bit part player who flatters to deceive with his exquisite short passing, and, while Lampard, Scholes and Gerrard are heavy on sweat, none look talented or ambitious enough to stamp their attacking authority on games in the way that Zidane, Ronaldo, Figo and Nedved have.

The lack of service provided by the England midfield has been the major reason why Owen has failed to shine, while Rooney has benefited from playing deeper and making chances for himself.

With nothing coming down the left, Owen's only hope is for Beckham to deliver more often from the right or for the central players to produce more brilliant penetrating passes like the one Lampard provided in the build-up to Scholes' equaliser.

All of that will not matter, however, if the defence continues to look as easily breached as it did against Croatia.

The first goal exposed how meek England are defensively. Beckham committed a needless foul in a dangerous area, Ashley Cole defended the free-kick poorly and the rest of the back line reacted slowly to the loose ball.

The second Croatia goal was even worse, a free header six yards out, which hardly inspires confidence.

But if we can cut out the defensive errors, and if Rooney can keep up his form, there is little to fear in England's exciting assault on a first major tournament victory since 1966.