Walcott, the fresh-faced kid, off to fast start in every way

He's just a kid, Theo Walcott. Nineteen going on 13 when he speaks. Painfully fresh-faced at times, slight-framed. But not lacking in belief. After all taking on the No 7 shirt for your country – from David Beckham – and the No 14 shirt for your club – from Thierry Henry – needs a certain swagger. There are monogrammed boots as well – TJW 14 they say – and it was with a swish of shiny white leather that Walcott came off age.

A hat-trick. His first goals for England. The first hat-trick of his career. Shades of the impact Michael Owen made. Of Wayne Rooney's explosion on to the scene. Each goal was better than the last, each laced with a growing contribution from Rooney. But it was the first that was crucial. It settled players far older and more experienced than him and was a serious jolt to the rampant, swirling determination of Croatia which, for a while, had threatened to engulf England.

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Long diagonal passes had sailed over his head but it was clear Fabio Capello had told his players to seek Walcott out. It is unusual for Capello to have such faith in youth – he clearly feels that both Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor have some way to go to convince him – especially in such a crucial fixture. His history as a coach in Spain and Italy has always leant towards experience.

It would have been a surprise to David Beckham, surely, that he was left out although maybe there was a clue in his call for wise heads after the Andorra match that he was worried Walcott had usurped him. There was a further clue in Capello's decision to single him out for praise, calling his opening 15-minute cameo "incredible". Not a word the Italian uses lightly. Much will be read into the fact that Beckham has started neither of England's opening World Cup qualification fixtures and, maybe, finally he is being shown the exit.

But that may be premature. He has seen off challengers before, although much of that has been because players such as Aaron Lennon, Shaun Wright-Phillips and David Bentley have failed to step up to the plate. Walcott has the potential to be the real deal. His pace alone is frightening – and it was with only a cynical body-check that Josip Simunic halted his progress as he finally got space to run.

Walcott was floored but, by then, he had also knocked the wind out of Croatia as he latched on to Wayne Rooney's pass to drive the ball low into the corner of the net. For a second it seemed unreal and Walcott did not appear certain how to react. But he had been certain with his shot, deciding not to pass to Joe Cole in the centre and rightly going for goal instead.

It gave England more shape. They tightened up, marshalled superbly by John Terry and Rio Ferdinand, while Croatia panicked. They were unpicked again. Rooney once more, Heskey, Lampard – composed, crisp build-up play – and another ice-cold driven shot into the goal from Walcott. It ended Croatia's challenge and fired England but there was time for a third, collecting Rooney's clever pass, before being replaced by Beckham. It wasn't just his pace and composure; it was the utter belief he had, the sense that he wasn't going to miss, that he had banished the questions that have always surrounded him.

Two years after being taken to the last World Cup, maybe when he should never have gone, Walcott has set England on the road to the next one. Even more importantly he gave them back the belief they have searched for ever since Germany 2006 and before then. It was a precious occasion. One that will go down in history. And that is some impact to make at 19.

Away days: England's greatest victories abroad

Lisbon 1947 Possibly England's greatest forward line – Stanley Matthews, Stan Mortensen, Tommy Lawton, Wilf Mannion, Tom Finney – run riot as England thrash the Portuguese 10-0.

Madrid 1965 Alf Ramsey unveils the "wingless wonders" and a bemused Spanish team are beaten 2-0. It is the most significant step towards the following summer's World Cup triumph.

Rio 1984 England's only win in Brazil, and the night when John Barnes waltzed through the famous canaryshirts. Neither Barnes, nor the other scorer, Mark Hateley, lived up to this promise.

Belgrade 1987 Shades of last night as Bobby Robson's team achieved a stunning 4-1 win in the Balkans. But it is not a good omen. This victory qualified them for Euro '88, where they flopped.

Munich 2001 The 5-1 drubbing of Germany was Sven Goran Eriksson's finest night. Michael Owen scored a hat-trick. Yet it was the Germans who reached the 2002 World Cup final.