Fabio Capello hailed a "step forward" for England after they showed flashes of improvement in a 2-0 win over the United States at Wembley.John Terry's first-half header was followed by Steven Gerrard's well-worked second after the break as England put on their best display in three matches under the Italian.

"The England team performed - all the players played very well," Capello told BBCi.

"In every situation we chose the best way to play - the first 50 minutes the USA pressed a lot, but we played good football.

"Today the team played like in training. The pressing and tackling were very good.

"It's another step forward."

Capello also praised John Terry - wearing the captain's armband for the first time under the former AC Milan boss and on his return to action following last week's heart-breaking Champions League final defeat.

"It made me happy, he is a good captain and it was a good performance," Capello said. "I'm very happy because I saw from him on the pitch what I asked for before the game.

"John Terry is always John Terry, in good moments and bad. He has good charisma for other players, he is a natural leader.

"Gerrard, Rooney, Hargreaves, all of the players played very well.

"It is a step. You have to move on every game."

Former captain David Beckham, who won his 101st cap, said Terry's impressive return after the disappointment of missing a penalty in Moscow last week was expected by his team-mates.

"We're not surprised by that as players because he's done it before, he does it every time he wears the shirt," said Beckham.

"He's disappointed by last week and still going through that but on the pitch, you see the man and the player he is.

"He's going to be hurting but he's got character, one of the strongest I've seen in football. He'll get over it but he will be hurting for a while.

"Tonight he tackled, headed every ball and scored the goal and I think every one of us was happy when he scored the goal. I think he deserved that tonight."

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