Never in doubt
England have broken a 39-year record for their biggest ever competitive win as they strolled to a 10-0 victory against San Marino on Monday night.
Previously, England’s biggest ever competitive win was a nine goal margin, having beaten Luxembourg 9-0 on two occasions in 1960 and 1982.
However, they did not quite score enough goals to top their 13-0 win over Ireland in a friendly game back in 1882. Still, not a bad performance.
As expected, it was a comfortable night for England as they cruised to victory over the minnows and secured their place at the Qatar World Cup next year.
Gareth Southgate made a host of changes from the 5-0 win against Albania, with the likes of Aaron Ramsdale and Conor Gallagher getting the chance to make their debuts, whilst Emile Smith-Rowe made his first start for England.
Harry Kane scored the bulk of the goals as he added an extra four to his tally, two of those from the penalty spot, breaking a 113-year record which was set by Dixie Dean to become England’s highest goalscorer in a calendar year.
The Spurs forward is also now level with Gary Lineker in the goalscoring charts for England, on 48 – just five behind Rooney’s record of 53.
It was the other Harry (Maguire) who opened the floodgates at the Stadio Olimpico di Serravalle after just six minutes, heading home from a corner.
Bukayo Saka’s deflected effort off Filippo Fabbri then made it two before Kane followed up his impressive hat-trick last Friday.
Smith-Rowe marked his first start with a thunderous finish from close-range before Tyrone Mings’ looping header made it eight.
Jude Bellingham then thought he became the second-youngest England goalscorer, however his effort was chalked off for a controversial foul.
Roma’s Tammy Abraham soon made it nine before Saka did eventually get on the scoresheet, rising highest to head home.
The result confirms England’s place to the World Cup with considerable ease and caps off a fine calendar year for England after their heroics to get to the final of the European Championships.
Despite the result, it once again begs the question as to whether teams of the calibre of San Marino should go through a pre-qualifying stage in order to play in the qualifiers
