ENGLAND hat-trick hero Theo Walcott emerged from Maksimir Stadium clutching the match ball after making history against Croatia – but he insists his feet will remain on the ground.
The 19-year-old's hat-trick meant a first defeat for Croatia in a competitive home game and it also raised England's hopes of reaching the 2010 World Cup.
Waiting for Walcott in England will be a hero's reception and heightened expectations, but t
he teenager said: "I'm not going to get ahead of myself. I know what people will be saying, but I will just ignore it all."
Wayne Rooney, who scored the other goal in the 4-1 win in Zagreb, led the tributes to Walcott, who was famously taken to the World Cup in 2006 but not used.
"He offers something a bit different. He is probably the quickest player I have seen," Rooney said.
"Sven-Goran Eriksson saw the talent in him in selecting him for the 2006 World Cup. It has been a bit of a rollercoaster for him in the last two years."
Rooney also admitted, after two defeats to Croatia cost England a place at Euro 2008, that victory felt all the more sweeter.
"It was a bit of revenge. It was a great performance and a great result," he added. "You always enjoy a 4-1 victory, especially after what Croatia did to us in the last qualifying campaign."
Walcott typically played down his own contribution. He added: "It wasn't just down to me, the whole team was brilliant and we showed to the fans and to all of England how strong we are.
"I didn't play with any fear. You just have to get out there and put them on the back foot."
Croatia defender Robert Kovac was sent off after catching Joe Cole with a blow to the head. The evening was soured by monkey chants being heard when Emile Heskey was booked. The Football Association are likely to make a complaint to FIFA today after speaking to Heskey.
The Wigan striker said: "They are ignorant people, you have to ignore it."
The full article contains 358 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
