Beckham proved the key figure as he impressed in the right-sided role that he has made his own in Eriksson's England team.

Both Steven Gerrard and John Terry scored from crosses delivered by the Real Madrid midfielder, who provided width and penetration from the flank and offered England the belief that they can still carve open their opponents in Germany, despite the likely absence of broken foot victim Wayne Rooney.

Beckham has struggled to gain universal approval in an England shirt since a disappointing campaign at Euro 2004, but Eriksson admitted after his man of the match performance that he has never understood the criticism aimed at his captain.

Eriksson said: "What do you want me to say about David Beckham that you haven't heard before? I never, ever understood the criticism of David Beckham. "The assists he has, you cannot find in all the world. He is not a dribbler like many other players but he doesn't need to dribble, he just strokes the ball in and there it comes. But nothing new."

Beckham's defining moment in an England shirt came at Old Trafford in October 2001 when his injury-time free-kick against Greece secured World Cup qualification and proved the zenith of his international career.

To say that it has all been downhill since then would be harsh on the former Manchester United man, but his star has never quite shone so brightly as it did on that Saturday afternoon five years ago.

At 31, Beckham is unlikely to have another World Cup on his horizon after Germany 2006, but he has often billed 2006 as the year that destiny awaits for this England team.

If Rooney fails to make the plane, then Beckham will again reclaim the centre stage and he suggested against Hungary that he is more than capable of coping with that burden.

His many critics were answered against the Hungarians as his golden boot masterminded England's victory. His pace has never been his strongest suit, but the ability to cross the ball from a standstill is unmatched by any other player on the global stage and England's first two goals came from his pinpoint delivery.

In a first-half that saw England struggle to carve open the Hungarian defence, Beckham's crosses for Michael Owen and Joe Cole both brought clear goalscoring chances, with Owen's header producing a stunning save by Gabor Kiraly and Cole glancing his effort onto the far post.

Beckham's delivery bore fruit early in the second-half, however, with Steven Gerrard and John Terry both scoring with headers from Beckham free-kicks.

"I felt good, but that's my job to set goals up," Beckham said: "I was lucky to create a few chances and we finished them off well.

"I think throughout the squad we have the belief and we've had it for a while. There has been a lot of hype surrounding certain players, but we have a lot of players in the squad who can play well and perform."