Manager Fabio Capello may have learned little that he did not know before a contest in which England recovered from a ragged first half showing to ensure victory.
But for the Italian, it was a night to ink over a few pencilled ticks against certain names and etch a line across others as he finalises the decisions that will cut his 30-man squad to 23 for the finals in South Africa.
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"I wasn't too concerned. It was very important to know where we are now - physically and mentally - and I think when we play on the counter, we look really dangerous. But we can't just play on the counter-attack."
"The manager told us what he thought at half time - we had to be a lot more aggressive and get in their faces," said midfielder Steven Gerrard. "In the second half, we did that. We stopped them playing. We gave them too much respect in the first half."
Though Mexico continued to provide most of the craft in a game that demonstrated contrast between the two nations' approaches, England were resolute, more organised and had opportunities to increase their winning margin.
"We weren't tight enough in the first half," said King, whose 17th-minute opening goal from a headed pass by Crouch was his second in 20 internationals. "He told us to get a lot closer and we did that."
"My knee is OK. I am sure and I have played three times in 10 days this season so I am sure I can do it again. The medical staff are doing a great job," King said.
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