European champion Spain and rejuvenated England booked their World Cup places with two games to spare yesterday by maintaining their perfect records in qualifying.
Spain clinched top spot in Group Five by beating Estonia 3-0 and the English secured their place in South Africa next June with a 5-1 victory over Croatia.
The pair joined the Netherlands as Europe's qualifiers so far.
World champions Italy enjoyed a 2-0 victory over Bulgaria to leave them needing only a draw in their next match to qualify.
Although England needed only a point to guarantee a place in the finals in South Africa, they raced into a 2-0 lead by the 18th minute with Lampard's eighth-minute penalty and Gerrard's close-range header.
Consolation goal
Lampard added a third in the 59th and Gerrard's second header put England out of reach.
Wayne Rooney added a fifth when goalkeeper Vedran Runje passed straight to him, after Eduardo da Silva had scored a consolation goal for the hapless Croatians.
"We were fantastic," Capello said. "The spirit of the group. The concentration for every moment. The movement with the ball. I was happy with everything."
In Merida, Cesc Fabregas, Santi Cazorla and Juanma Mata scored to provide Spain with the win over Estonia that ensured a ninth straight appearance at football's showcase event.
Substitute Miroslav Klose scored twice as Germany routed 10-man Azerbaijan 4-0 to remain in control of Group Four.
The win gives Germany 22 points from eight games, leaving them one point ahead of Russia, which won 3-1 in Wales.
Own-goal
Ian Azzopardi's own-goal gave Sweden a 1-0 win over Malta that lifted them to within three points of Denmark with two matches to go.
Portugal are a further two points adrift after Pepe's early header clinched the 1-0 win over Hungary, which also have 13 points.
France had been trailing by a goal and a player in Belgrade after Nenad Milijas gave Serbia the lead in the 14th minute from the penalty spot after France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris brought down Nikola Zigic and was sent off.
Thierry Henry equalised 17 minutes later, though, after picking up a rebound by Serbia 'keeper Vladimir Stojkovic.
Serbia lead Group Seven by four points ahead of France with two rounds to go.
The nine European group winners qualify and eight of the nine second-place teams go to play-offs.