England qualify for 2022 World Cup with an embarrassing 10-0 win over San Marino
England hit double
figures for the first time since 1964 as they secured qualification for the
2022 World Cup in Qatar with embarrassing 10-0 win over 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.
Only Sir Bobby Charlton
and Wayne Rooney are ahead of Kane in the England goalscorers list. He now
stands just five behind record-holder Rooney's tally of 53.
Kane also 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.
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.
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