Michael Owen was once again the scourge of Argentina scoring two goals in the final four minutes to give England a stunning 3-2 victory over their historic enemy on Saturday.
Owen, who in two previous World Cup encounters against Argentina had scored a wonder goal and won two penalties, struck with two headers as England came from behind in the friendly at the Stade de Geneve.
Argentina led twice with goals from Hernan Crespo and Walter Samuel but England equalised twice with goals from Wayne Rooney and Owen before Owen scored the winner.
Owen told the BBC afterwards: "To come back twice was great. These are what these warm-up games for the World Cup are for. Maybe we can go in the lead in the next game and learn how to defend a lead as well.
"It was cracking excitement, there was so much more to it than a friendly. Even when they scored you see their fans and players going mad."
Crespo, who plays for English champions Chelsea, put the Argentines ahead after 35 minutes with a close range effort after poor England defending only for Rooney to equalise with a snap shot four minutes later.
ARGENTINA LEAD
Argentina took the lead again early in the second half when Samuel rose to a Juan Roman Riquelme free kick at the far post and headed across goal, although the ball was already over the line when his central defensive partner Roberto Ayala helped it into the back of the net.
Jose Pekerman's team then appeared to be holding out for a win to boost them after two defeats in their last two away games in the qualifiers but they were crushed by England's strong finish with substitute Joe Cole having a big impact.
Both of Owen's goals came from headers as the Newcastle man took his England tally to 35 goals from his 75 internationals.
In a high-octane opening quarter there were agonisingly close misses at both ends with Riquelme having the first shot on target, a drive from outside the box in the fifth minute that keeper Paul Robinson turned over.
Both teams also had the ball in their opponents' nets early on with Owen's fine header from Rooney's lob into the box being ruled out for offside.
At the other end seven minutes later, England right back Luke Young turned a corner into his own net under pressure but was awarded a foul close to the post.
Robinson saved from Tevez in the 10th minute and Rodriguez a minute later.
ROONEY CLOSE
As the exchanges became less frantic, Sorin blocked an attempt by Rooney in front of goal just outside the box, Argentina cleared a dangerous left cross from Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard headed Beckham's corner tantalisingly wide of the far post.
Even closer was Rooney chance on the half hour when England should have gone ahead.
Gerrard robbed Zanetti on the left and sent in a superb low, diagonal ball to the middle that Rooney touched past the advancing keeper Roberto Abbondanzieri only to see it come back off the far post.
Argentina went ahead less than four minutes later when Riquelme stole the ball after a mix-up deep in the Argentines' half between Beckham and Rooney.
Riquelme's diagonal ball found Rodriguez on the right whose low cross was slightly deflected by Rio Ferdinand and Crespo turned it home from close in for his 29th goal in 53 internationals, though his first in four games.
Gerrard was just wide of the diving Abbondanzieri's right-hand post with a 25-metre drive minutes later as England sought a quick reply.
This came within five minutes. Ayala's attempted clearance inside the box went up in the air and Beckham beat Sorin to the ball to nudge it wide where Rooney raced in to thump it in close to the base of the near post for his 11th goal in 28 games for England.
Abbondanzieri made some good saves in the second half when England probed for the equaliser but was beaten when Owen ghosted in behind the defence to head home Gerrard's right cross and headed an almost carbon copy winner two minutes later.
Owen, who in two previous World Cup encounters against Argentina had scored a wonder goal and won two penalties, struck with two headers as England came from behind in the friendly at the Stade de Geneve.
Argentina led twice with goals from Hernan Crespo and Walter Samuel but England equalised twice with goals from Wayne Rooney and Owen before Owen scored the winner.
Owen told the BBC afterwards: "To come back twice was great. These are what these warm-up games for the World Cup are for. Maybe we can go in the lead in the next game and learn how to defend a lead as well.
"It was cracking excitement, there was so much more to it than a friendly. Even when they scored you see their fans and players going mad."
Crespo, who plays for English champions Chelsea, put the Argentines ahead after 35 minutes with a close range effort after poor England defending only for Rooney to equalise with a snap shot four minutes later.
ARGENTINA LEAD
Argentina took the lead again early in the second half when Samuel rose to a Juan Roman Riquelme free kick at the far post and headed across goal, although the ball was already over the line when his central defensive partner Roberto Ayala helped it into the back of the net.
Jose Pekerman's team then appeared to be holding out for a win to boost them after two defeats in their last two away games in the qualifiers but they were crushed by England's strong finish with substitute Joe Cole having a big impact.
Both of Owen's goals came from headers as the Newcastle man took his England tally to 35 goals from his 75 internationals.
In a high-octane opening quarter there were agonisingly close misses at both ends with Riquelme having the first shot on target, a drive from outside the box in the fifth minute that keeper Paul Robinson turned over.
Both teams also had the ball in their opponents' nets early on with Owen's fine header from Rooney's lob into the box being ruled out for offside.
At the other end seven minutes later, England right back Luke Young turned a corner into his own net under pressure but was awarded a foul close to the post.
Robinson saved from Tevez in the 10th minute and Rodriguez a minute later.
ROONEY CLOSE
As the exchanges became less frantic, Sorin blocked an attempt by Rooney in front of goal just outside the box, Argentina cleared a dangerous left cross from Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard headed Beckham's corner tantalisingly wide of the far post.
Even closer was Rooney chance on the half hour when England should have gone ahead.
Gerrard robbed Zanetti on the left and sent in a superb low, diagonal ball to the middle that Rooney touched past the advancing keeper Roberto Abbondanzieri only to see it come back off the far post.
Argentina went ahead less than four minutes later when Riquelme stole the ball after a mix-up deep in the Argentines' half between Beckham and Rooney.
Riquelme's diagonal ball found Rodriguez on the right whose low cross was slightly deflected by Rio Ferdinand and Crespo turned it home from close in for his 29th goal in 53 internationals, though his first in four games.
Gerrard was just wide of the diving Abbondanzieri's right-hand post with a 25-metre drive minutes later as England sought a quick reply.
This came within five minutes. Ayala's attempted clearance inside the box went up in the air and Beckham beat Sorin to the ball to nudge it wide where Rooney raced in to thump it in close to the base of the near post for his 11th goal in 28 games for England.
Abbondanzieri made some good saves in the second half when England probed for the equaliser but was beaten when Owen ghosted in behind the defence to head home Gerrard's right cross and headed an almost carbon copy winner two minutes later.
