Supersub Defoe´s double vindicates Capello

England striker Jermain Defoe vindicated Fabio Capello’s decision to snub Michael Owen by scoring twice to earn a 2-2 draw against Holland in Wednesday’s friendly.

Capello’s team were heading for only a third defeat in 16 games under Capello as Dirk Kuyt and Rafael van der Vaart punished careless mistakes from Rio Ferdinand and Gareth Barry to give the Dutch a two-goal lead at half-time at the Amsterdam Arena.

But Capello sent on Defoe at the interval and he showed why the England coach believes the Tottenham star is currently a better option than Owen by producing two clinical finishes.

Defoe’s goals may have consigned Manchester United forward Owen to a further period in international exile, but, more significantly, they maintained the feelgood factor around the England camp at the start of a season they hope will end with World Cup glory in South Africa.

England still need to cut out the kind of sloppy errors that led to Holland’s goals, but their determined fightback showed that Capello has managed to instill a more steely attitude into a squad that was drained of belief before he took charge.

With Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard sidelined with a groin injury, Aston Villa’s Ashley Young was handed a first start on the left, while David Beckham won his 113th England cap as Capello opted not to risk Theo Walcott, who was unable to train on Tuesday.

Although Capello has led England to seven successive World Cup qualifying wins, his record in friendlies has been more mixed, with victory in Germany offset by chastening defeats to France and Spain.

Yet the Italian believes regular exposure to the best international teams is the only way to make his squad aware of the level they have to reach to win a World Cup.

Holland were unquestionably another good test. Bert van Marwijk’s team were the first European nation to qualify for next year’s World Cup after reeling off seven wins.

The Dutch started sharply enough but they didn’t need to break sweat to take the lead as Ferdinand’s howler laid on the opening goal in the 10th minute.

It was a catalogue of errors from start to finish. Frank Lampard could have kicked long rather than passing to Ferdinand on the edge of his own penalty area, but the Manchester United defender still had time to deal with the situation.

Instead he knocked a suicidal backpass to goalkeeper Robert Green and Liverpool forward Kuyt nipped in, rounded the keeper and shot home despite John Terry’s attempt to clear off the line.

Kuyt went close to doubling Holland’s lead when he met van der Vaart’s deep free-kick with a header that Green scrambled away.

Ferdinand was having one of those days when his laidback style looks careless rather than composed and another wayward pass allowed Arjen Robben a sight of goal.

That lazy attitude seemed to seep through the rest of the team and, in the 37th minute, Barry took a pass from Ferdinand and played the ball back towards Terry without looking.

Robben stole possession and fired in a low shot. Green saved with his legs but Van der Vaart was on hand to slot into the empty net.

Terry revealed this week that Capello is not adverse to delivering a ferocious half-time team talk if England’s performance falls below the Italian’s exacting standards.

On the evidence of the first half here, Capello must have shattered a few egos at the interval.

If so, it had the desired effect.

In the 49th minute, Lampard flicked a pass over the top to half-time substitute Defoe, who out-paced the Dutch defence and beat Maarten Stekelenburg via a post.

James Milner, on for his England debut, almost set up an equaliser with his first touch as a perfect cross from the Aston Villa winger was headed over by Defoe.

Milner was the provider as England completed a stirring a comeback in the 77th minute. He whipped in a teasing low cross from the left and Defoe timed his run to slide home from close-range.