Deadly Walcott scores England's 80th hat-trick in Zagreb

Arsenal's Theo Walcott sent the English fans home happy after a tough World Cup qualifier in Croatia last month, scoring a hat-trick in a 4-1 victory to push England top of their group.

It was Croatia's first home defeat in 35 competitive matches. The media praised Walcott who, at 19, became the youngest ever England international to score a hat-trick.

His feat in Zagreb was the 80th hat-trick in the history of the English national team. The remarkable milestones occurred as follows:

1882-1899: 16 hat-tricks.
1901-1929: 13.
1936-1938: 5.
1946-1960: 17.
1961-1966: 12.
1969-1999: 13.
1999-2008: 4.

Other football news of interest for September read:

• A British record fee of £32.5 million is spent by Manchester City for the capture of Brazilian forward Robinho from Real Madrid.

• Alan Curbishley resigns as manager of West Ham.

• Kevin Keegan leaves Newcastle after only eight months in charge.

• In an U-21 European Championship international Scotland beat Slovenia 3-1 at home.

• England reach the play-offs for the 2009 European Under-21 Championship after a 2-0 win (Milner pen, Agbonlahor) over Portugal at Wembley. Other results: Bulgaria-Ireland 2-0, Germany-N. Ireland 3-0.

• In Fabio Capello's first competitive match, England topple Andorra 2-0 (J. Cole 2) in Barcelona in a World Cup qualifier. Other outcomes: Slovakia-N. Ireland 2-1 (Durrica og); Wales-Azerbaijan 1-0 (Vokes), Georgia-Ireland (in Karlsruhe) 1-2 (Doyle, Whelan); Macedonia-Scotland 1-0.

• Wales join England in the U-21 European Championship play-offs after their resounding 3-0 at Romania. Other results: Portugal-Republic of Ireland 2-2, Denmark-Scotland 1-0.

• England stun European football with their 4-1 (Walcott 3, Rooney) triumph over Croatia in Zagreb in a World Cup qualifier. Other qualification matches: Northern Ireland-Czech Rep. 0-0; Russia-Wales 2-1 (Ledley), Montenegro-Republic of Ireland 0-0; Iceland-Scotland 1-2 (Broadfoot, Robson).

Zola back in groove

• West Ham appoint former Chelsea stalwart Gianfranco Zola as manager.

• Steve Clarke resigns as assistant first-team coach at Chelsea to take over as right-hand man to Zola at West Ham. Later, Chelsea appoint Ray Wilkins as Clarke's replacement.

• England and Wales have been drawn to face each other in the play-offs for a place in next summer's UEFA European U-21 Championship in Sweden.

• Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate and Chelsea's player Deco are named Manager and Player of the Month, respectively.

• In the first group match of the Champions League, Chelsea trounce Bordeaux 4-0 at Stamford Bridge. Other results: Marseille-Liverpool 1-2, Celtic-Aalborg 0-0, Manchester United-Villarreal 0-0, Dynamo Kiev-Arsenal 1-1.

• In 2009, England will play friendlies at Wembley against Slovakia (March 25) and Slovenia (September 5).

• John Barnes is appointed Jamaica head coach.

• In their European debut, Portsmouth beat Guimares 2-0 at Fratton Park. Other UEFA Cup first round, first leg results: AS Nancy-Motherwell 1-0, Everton-Standard Liege 2-2, Litex Lovech-Aston Villa 1-3, Omonia Nicosia-Manchester City 1-2, Tottenham-Wisla Krakow 2-1.

• An independent tribunal rules against West Ham over the Carlos Tevez affair and the club could be forced to pay £30m to Sheffield United, who were relegated since the Hammers were not docked any points.

• In the third round of the League Cup, Aston Villa are shocked at home by QPR 1-0. Other results: Burnley-Fulham 1-0, Watford-West Ham 1-0, Brighton-Manchester City 5-3 on penalties (second round), Rotherham-Southampton 3-1.

• In the same competition in Scotland, in round three, Dunfermline see off St Mirren 2-0 at home.

• Notts County legend Jimmy Sirrel passes away, aged 86.

• Newcastle appoint Joe Kinnear as interim boss until end of October.

• Arsenal topple FC Porto 4-0 in the second group match of the Champions League. Other results: Aalborg-Manchester United 0-3, Villarreal-Celtic 1-0, Liverpool-PSV Eindhoven 3-1.

Leading marksmen

Premier League
5 − Defoe (Portsmouth), Torres (Liverpool), Zaki (Wigan).
4 − Agbonlahor, Carew (Aston Villa), Anelka (Chelsea), Davies (Bolton).

The Championship
8 − Doyle (Reading), Iwelumo (Wolves).
6 − McCormack (Cardiff), Paterson (Burnley).

Scottish Premier
8 − Samaras (Celtic).
4 − Clarkson, Sutton (Motherwell), Mehmet (St Mirren), Miller (Rangers).

Active scorers

The best scorers in the Premier League since the inauguration of the competition.

1. Robbie Fowler (Blackburn) 161
2. Michael Owen (Newcastle) 139
3. Dwight Yorke (Sunderland) 123
4. Robbie Keane (Liverpool) 103
5. Emile Heskey (Wigan) 101
5. Ryan Giggs (Man. Utd) 101
7. Frank Lampard (Chelsea) 97
8. Paul Scholes (Man. United) 96
9. Mark Viduka (Newcastle) 92
10. Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 90