Portman Road's England adventure ended in a 3-1 victory for the home side over Croatia. It wasn't always easy for Sven-Goran Eriksson's side but goals from David Beckham, Michael Owen and Frank Lampard were answered only by an Ivica Mornar strike.
Pubs and bars around town filled as the afternoon wore on and more fans piled into town. The police were very conspicuous on street corners in twos and threes.
Supporters were congregating in numbers around the ground itself well before 6pm when the gates opened.
As kick-off drew nearer the town emptied, some of the pubs closing at 7pm, fans making their way to the ground.
Sir Bobby Robson was given a rousing reception as he was introduced to the sides by the two captains. The national anthems were both largely respected as was a minute's silence for the recently deceased Jimmy Davis and Ray Harford.
England went ahead on 10 after Josip Simunic rather pointlessly handled Beckham's cross aimed at Michael Owen behind the Croat defender on the left of goal.
Beckham stepped up and powered a textbook penalty to the keeper's right and into the corner of the net.
England had the best of the early stages but the Eastern Europeans came more into the match as the half wore on. David James had to save on a number of occasions, once after a woeful David Beckham passback.
In addition to James' saves Marijo Maric and Milan Rapaic both headed over the bar when it seemed easier to hit the target.
James, who would be named as man of the match, was swapped for Paul Robinson at the break, the first of ten substitutions.
England went two-up when David Beckham sublimely crossed from the right and Owen headed home.
With the score at 2-0 former Town star Kieron Dyer entered the fray to a rapturous welcome from a crowd made up of many of his old fans.
The Newcastle man was in an unusual role just behind Emile Heskey in the England attack, a position he seemed to relish, linking well with the midfield and darting all over the field.
Croatia got the goal that their first half form had deserved when Ivica Mornar lashed in a rebound after Robinson had saved from Marko Babic from a left wing cross.
Soon afterwards Dyer brought the ball forward, played it to Wayne Bridge out to his left. Bridge returned to Dyer who passed to Beattie on the edge of the area. He laid the ball back to Frank Lampard who hammered the ball into the top left of the net from 25 yards. A fine move and a fabulous strike.
England improved with the substitutions, Dyer and Joe Cole particularly influential in the closing stages. Dyer was unlucky to have had a goal chalked off for offside when he exchanged passes with Trevor Sinclair before chipping the ball over the keeper.
Not too long after the match and a memorable Portman Road occasion ended, with an England victory from an entertaining 90 minutes. And as far as we're aware at the time of writing which has gone off with few problems.
England: James (Robinson 45), Phil Neville (Mills 81), Ashley Cole (Upson 60), Gerrard (Murphy 82), Ferdinand (Bridge 61), Terry, Beckham (Joe Cole 61), Butt (Lampard 27), Scholes (Dyer 64), Heskey (Beattie 76), Owen (Sinclair 61).
Croatia: Pletikosa (Butina 70), Simunic (Seric 73), Robert Kovac, Tomas, Zivkovic (Agic 72), Simic (Srna 45), Marijo Maric (Babic 45), Rapaic (Mornar 45), Leko (Rosso 59), Olic, Niko Kovac.