England hit double figures for the first time since 1964 as they secure qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with embarrassing ease in San Marino.
Harry Kane also racked up the records by scoring four in the first half to go level with Gary Lineker on 48 England goals, additionally setting a new high of 13 for his country in a calendar year as he followed up his hat-trick in the 5-0 win against Albania.
Kane became only the fourth player to score a hat-trick in consecutive England games after Vivian Woodward, Dixie Dean and Tommy Taylor, and the first to score four since Ian Wright, also against San Marino in 1993.
Harry Maguire’s early header set England on their way and Bukayo Saka’s shot was deflected in off Filippo Fabri before Kane took centre stage with two penalties and a couple of trademark finishes in the area.
England continued to punish San Marino after the break with Emile Smith Rowe and Tyrone Mings scoring their first international goals with a crisp finish and angled header respectively.
The rout continued with goals from substitute Tammy Abraham and Saka as England hit 10 for the first time since they beat USA 10-0 in New York City in May 1964, and the first time ever in a competitive fixture.
The scoreline again raises questions about the worth of fixtures such as this.
San Marino are ranked 210th out of 210 in the Fifa rankings and the only bonus for their players may be that they can say they shared a pitch with stellar names such as Kane, because otherwise this was simply an exercise in humiliation for a country that has won only one fixture out of 186.
It was a good night for Kane, who made no mistake with penalties given for handball against Dante Rossi, who was later sent off for two yellow cards, and Alessandro D’Addario. He scuffed one finish but showed neat footwork for another, although he was helped by hapless San Marino defending.
Smith Rowe made a good impression in his first England start and deserved his goal, while Conor Gallagher, so impressive on loan at Crystal Palace from Chelsea, also got on for his first cap.
England’s only obstacle was a slightly treacherous surface which meant one of the other aims of the night was ensuring all their players emerged unscathed to return to their clubs.
For England, this was a case of job very comfortably done. Now Southgate can start all the planning in earnest for next year’s World Cup as he tries to improve on reaching the semi-final in Russia in 2018.
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection
San Marino
Starting XI
Avg
-
Squad number1Player nameBenedettini
Average rating5.23
-
Squad number22Player nameBattistini
Average rating5.06
-
Squad number16Player nameFabbri
Average rating5.00
-
Squad number6Player nameRossi
Average rating4.93
-
Squad number7Player nameTomassini
Average rating5.11
-
Squad number5Player nameLunadei
Average rating5.08
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Squad number8Player nameGolinucci
Average rating5.08
-
Squad number11Player nameMularoni
Average rating5.01
-
Squad number2Player nameD’Addario
Average rating5.04
-
Squad number19Player nameNanni
Average rating5.37
-
Squad number20Player nameHirsch
Average rating5.02
Substitutes
Avg
-
Squad number3Player nameCensoni
Average rating5.34
-
Squad number10Player nameVitaioli
Average rating5.32
-
Squad number13Player nameGrandoni
Average rating5.25
-
Squad number15Player nameConti
Average rating5.38
-
Squad number17Player nameGolinucci
Average rating5.29
England
Starting XI
Avg
-
Squad number1Player nameRamsdaleAverage rating
6.98
-
Squad number4Player nameMaguireAverage rating
6.03
-
Squad number5Player nameCoadyAverage rating
6.43
-
Squad number6Player nameMingsAverage rating
6.40
-
Squad number2Player nameAlexander-ArnoldAverage rating
7.30
-
Squad number8Player nameBellinghamAverage rating
7.18
-
Squad number7Player namePhillipsAverage rating
7.42
-
Squad number3Player nameSakaAverage rating
7.44
-
Squad number10Player nameFodenAverage rating
7.05
-
Squad number9Player nameKaneAverage rating
7.54
-
Squad number11Player nameSmith RoweAverage rating
7.52
Substitutes
Avg
-
Squad number12Player nameChilwellAverage rating
6.35
-
Squad number14Player nameJamesAverage rating
6.31
-
Squad number16Player nameStonesAverage rating
5.98
-
Squad number17Player nameAbrahamAverage rating
6.60
-
Squad number18Player nameGallagherAverage rating
7.07
Line-ups
San Marino
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Benedettini
- 22BattistiniBooked at 54mins
- 16FabbriSubstituted forContiat 81’minutes
- 6RossiBooked at 68mins
- 7TomassiniBooked at 16minsSubstituted forVitaioliat 45’minutes
- 5LunadeiSubstituted forGrandoniat 74’minutes
- 8Golinucci
- 11Mularoni
- 2D’AddarioBooked at 38minsSubstituted forCensoniat 45’minutes
- 19Nanni
- 20HirschSubstituted forGolinucciat 45’minutes
Substitutes
- 3Censoni
- 4Tomassini
- 9Zonzini
- 10Vitaioli
- 12Benedettini
- 13Grandoni
- 14Zafferani
- 15Conti
- 17Golinucci
- 18Ceccaroli
- 21Battistini
- 23Marconi
England
Formation 3-4-3
- 1Ramsdale
- 4MaguireSubstituted forChilwellat 45’minutes
- 5Coady
- 6Mings
- 2Alexander-Arnold
- 8Bellingham
- 7PhillipsSubstituted forGallagherat 45’minutes
- 3Saka
- 10FodenSubstituted forAbrahamat 45’minutesBooked at 73mins
- 9KaneSubstituted forJamesat 63’minutes
- 11Smith RoweSubstituted forStonesat 73’minutes
Substitutes
- 12Chilwell
- 13Johnstone
- 14James
- 15Walker
- 16Stones
- 17Abraham
- 18Gallagher
- 22Pickford
- Referee:
- Rade Obrenovic
Live Text
Match ends, San Marino 0, England 10.
Full Time