Beckham’s penalty, Owen’s header and Lampard’s thunderbolt earned the victory, with Ivica Mornar replying for the visitors.

But England, who face vital Euro 2004 qualifiers against Macedonia and Liechtenstein next month, were exposed by counter-attacks time and time again in the first half.

Beckham fired England ahead from the penalty spot with just nine minutes gone.

Croatian defender Josep Simunic clearly handled the England captain’s cross - and Real Madrid’s £25million superstar coolly struck the spot-kick into the bottom left corner.

But it was far from one-way traffic for the remainder of the first half, with Otto Baric’s Balkan visitors counter-attacking with verve and purpose.

Beckham almost went from hero to zero when his underhit backpass was seized on by Ivica Olic but David James saved well.

The West Ham goalkeeper also pushed away an Olic drive and parried Marijo Maric’s header as the visitors enjoyed the upper hand.

But England defied their threat and doubled their five minutes after the break.

Owen took full advantage of non-existent marking by substitute Darijo Srna and latched onto Beckham’s cross to plant his header into the back of the net.

Mornar hit back in the 77th minute but Lampard made it 3-1 with a 20-yard screamer two minutes later.

Nicky Butt had limped off after just 26 minutes, to be replaced by Frank Lampard. The injury will, of course, also cause concern for Sir Alex Ferguson.

Earlier, Eriksson’s principal piece of team news was the decision to hand Chelsea’s John Terry his first international start, pairing him with Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand at centre-back.

Terry was given his chance because of injuries to Sol Campbell and Jonathan Woodgate.

It took Eriksson’s side just nine minutes to steam into the lead.

Beckham, wide on the right, floated a diagonal ball towards Owen at the far post.

Simunic leapt to challenge Owen but only succeeded in committing a blatant handball.

Danish referee Claus Bo Larsen had no hesitation in awarding a penalty – and Beckham swept the spot-kick beyond Stipe Pletikosa’s dive and into the bottom left corner of his net.

At the other end, Terry had a lucky escape just before the quarter-hour mark when Maric nodded a cross against his hand from close range but Larsen dismissed the visitors’ enthusiastic penalty appeals.

Despite England’s positive opening, Croatia were dangerous and thrilling in equal measure when they counter-attacked.

From one such break-out, Olic landed a far-post cross on the head of the unmarked Milan Rapaic. His finish was poor, sending a header two yards over the top.

James’ first action of note came 10 minutes before the interval, racing from his line to untidily but crucially intercept when Olic raced goalwards after Terry took a tumble.

James then came to his country’s rescue twice in the space of 30 seconds.

First, he stuck out a big right glove to parry Maric’s header from Dario Simic’s delivery.

Seconds later, Beckham underhit a backpass which Olic latched onto. James closed the Croat down and blocked his shot.

England hit back as the break neared, with Pletikosa saving Heskey’s rasping 20-yard drive after a brilliant Owen flick between his legs.

On the stroke of half-time, James threw himself to his right to push away Olic’s thumping shot. Paul Robinson replaced him at the break.

The visitors were made to pay for sloppy defending after 50 minutes, as England doubled their lead.

In a carbon-copy of the move which earned the penalty for the opener, Beckham looped the ball towards Owen.

This time, there was no Croatian defender to mark – sub Srna was out-of-position – and Owen headed firmly into the bottom left corner.

Eriksson made a quintuple substitution just before the hour, with Owen, Beckham, Paul Scholes, Ferdinand and Ashley Cole replaced by Trevor Sinclair, Joe Cole, Kieron Dyer, Matthew Upson and Wayne Bridge.

And Chelsea new-boy Cole almost made an immediate impact, brushing the outside of the right post with a fierce drive.

Croatia pulled one back after 77 minutes, with Mornar charging in to hammer home a loose ball after a scramble in the area.

But just two minutes later, Lampard made it 3-1 when he lashed a drive into the top corner from 20 yards after Beattie’s lay-off.