Wayne Rooney grabbed a fortuitous fifth to put the icing on the cake, while man-of-the-match Aaron Lennon put himself in pole position to make the England right wing his own with a dazzling display.
The diminutive Lennon took up the role of tormentor-in-chief in an explosive opening twenty minutes. First, the fleet-footed Tottenham man earned a seventh-minute penalty with a typically energised run - Frank Lampard duly converting from the spot.
Eleven minutes later Lennon showed a maturity perhaps lacking from his game in recent seasons with a pin-point cross for Steven Gerrard to head home.
A quiet start to the second half was ignited by Lampard completing his brace on the hour, shortly followed by Gerrard. Both of the goals were headers.
Eduardo poached a brief consolation despite good work between the sticks by Rob Green to deny the Croats, only for Wayne Rooney to capitalise on some comical goalkeeping - in turn bettering the win between England in Croatia one year ago.
The Three Lions have never qualified for a World Cup with two qualifying games to spare. However, an unblemished competitive record under Fabio Capello means that the ghosts of 2007 are now permanently laid to rest.
How fitting, then, that the opportunity arose against the side that inflicted the demoralising defeat that ended the last regime at a rain-soaked Wembley two years ago.
Ukraine's failure to beat Belarus earlier in the day diminished the size of England's task further - meaning a point would be enough.
As has become custom under Capello, media pressure had little effect on the team sheet, with in-form Jermain Defoe being left on the bench while Emile Heskey played role of 'large' in a 'little and large' strikeforce with Rooney.
On the other hand, the power of the media was still prevalent in the stands - the boo-boys were out in force for Eduardo whose stock has plummeted as dramatically as he did against Celtic a fortnight ago.
Even before Lampard was given the chance to hand England the lead from the spot, Gerrard made a questionable shout for a penalty when Krizanac appeared to handle the ball. It would have been harsh.
However, the referee was soon pointing to the spot when Josip Simunic upended Lennon in a fashion that a Sunday league manager would have winced at. By contrast, the second goal was a thing of class.
Gerrard spread the play initially and peeled cleverly to the back post where Lennon found him with an accuracy of which the watching David Beckham would have been proud. For all the talk of susceptible English full-backs it was the Croatians who were proving most vulnerable, and they were already 2-0 down.
Ivica Olic's only whiff of goal came and went with a bad first touch and it seemed Croatia had found a foothold. It was a precarious one at best.
Lampard unleashed a fierce free-kick from fully 30 yards and then Lennon sprung the offside trap for what seemed like the third goal, but his tame finish reeked of the Lennon of old. He, then Lampard, turned provider for Emile Heskey but on both occasions the Aston Villa forward was equally profligate in the one-on-one situation. Despite that, the home dressing room would be by far the happier.
Darijo Srna opened the door for Mandzukic with some clever thinking from a corner early in the second half only for the midfielder to scoop the ball over from inside the six-yard box.
It was a sign that Croatia had got the necessary ear-bashing from Slaven Bilic and they were certainly a more cohesive unit early in the second period - but still, England's dominance was total.
A case of ones reputation proceeding them perhaps denied Eduardo a penalty when Johnson clambered all over the Arsenal striker shortly before the hour. Defending has never been Johnson's strength - there is, though, no denying his prowess in the final third.
Within minutes Lennon created the space for an overlap with a surge infield and when Johnson collected from Gerrard he took the time to measure a cross to Lampard who coolly guided a header into the far corner.
Game over. Even Capello offered a knowing wink. But there was more.
Seven minutes later Rooney hoisted the ball from the byline into a crowded area that Gerrard rose majestically to nod home. Two each for Lampard and the Liverpool skipper; who said they can't play together?
Kranjcar's speculative effort on 70 minutes brought ironic cheers from the crowd. It was Croatia's first effort on target.
However a tendency to switch off has blighted England recently. They were opened up on their right side and, after two quick-fire saves from Green, poacher extraordinaire Eduardo prodded home.
To England's credit they soon regained the initiative and when the away side's goalkeeper let leave of his senses with a mindless swipe at a back-pass, Rooney pounced to roll in a fifth.
The scoreline wasn't flattering.
England should face sterner tests in South Africa but on this evidence they may well be the team to avoid.
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