England vs San Marino LIVE: World Cup qualifier result, final score and reaction tonight
Relive all the action as Gareth Southgate’s side secured their place at the 2022 World Cup
Harry Kane scored four goals in England’s 10-0 demolition of San Marino as Gareth Southgate’s side made official their place in next year’s World Cup finals in Qatar.
In truth England needed only a point against the world’s 210th and lowest-ranked footballing nation to seal top spot in Group I so the only real question was how many goals they would deliver to mark the occasion.
Kane duly filled his boots, following up his hat-trick in the 5-0 win against Albania on Friday with four goals before halftime, including two penalties, swelling his England tally to 48 to move joint third on the list alongside Gary Lineker.
Harry Maguire began the rout with a sixth-minute header and Filippo Fabbri scored an own goal before Kane took over to put England 6-0 ahead before halftime.
Emile Smith-Rowe marked his first England start with the seventh and even after Kane was substituted the punishment continued for San Marino who had Dante Rossi sent off for a second yellow card.
Tyrone Mings, substitute Tammy Abraham and Bukayo Saka all got on the scoresheet in a farcically one-sided match that did little for the reputation of international football.
GOAL! San Marino 0 - 7 England (Smith Rowe, 58’)⚽️
58 mins: It’s a first England goal for Emile Smith Rowe! Bukayo Saka has had a fun night. He’s been moved over to the right wing since the start of the second half but he’s been no less effective on the ball. He brings it down the right side before slotting a pass into the box for Abraham wh backheels the ball to Smith Rowe. Smith Rowe hits a first time shot and guides it coolly into the near bottom corner.
San Marino 0 - 6 England
57 mins: Chance! Harry Kane drops a little deeper to collect the ball before turning towards the box and making a through up the middle. Abraham drifts into space and receives a through ball from the England captain and with just the goalkeeper to beat the Roma forward sends his shot over the crossbar!
San Marino 0 - 6 England
54 mins: Manuel Battistini slides into a heavy tackle on Smith Rowe and picks up a yellow card. England just need to be careful that they don’t allow San Marino to fly into many challenges. The pitch is slippery and a mistimed lunge could do someone an injury.
San Marino 0 - 6 England
51 mins: Chance! England aren’t settling for six, they want more goals. Again they attack the penalty area from the left. Saka sends a square pass out to Smith Rowe who feeds it to Chilwell making a run to the byline. He cuts the ball into Bellingham who lays it off for Smith Rowe. He attempts to chip the goalkeeper and lifts it to the back post but it’s not pacey enough to cause Benedettini problems and the keeper plucks the ball out of the air.
San Marino 0 - 6 England
48 mins: Chance! Alexander-Arnold swings a lovely diagonal ball out to Smith Rowe who knocks it down to Bellingham. Chilwell makes a run into the box and collects the pass before sending it back to Smith Rowe on the wing. He whips in a cross and almost picks out Abraham in the box but the striker is punished for a push on his marker. Free kick San Marino.
Second half: San Marino 0 - 6 England
Kick off: Conor Gallagher, Ben Chilwell and Tammy Abraham are on for England. Gallagher makes his senior debut for England having been with the under-21 squad.
Phil Foden, Harry Maguire and Kalvin Phillips are the men replaced.
England break the records
Harry Kane has scored 16 goals for England in 2021, the most any player has netted for the Three Lions in a single calendar year.
The Three Lions have scored six goals in the first half of a game for the first time since November 1946 vs Netherlands (finished 8-2).
Six of Harry Maguire’s seven goals for England have been headed, netting five international goals in 2021 with only Harry Kane (16) having scored more this calendar year for the England.
Kane on fire again
Harry Kane is the man of the moment once again as he scored four goals in the opening 45 minutes against San Marino. Kane is the fourth player to score a hat-trick for England in consecutive appearances, after Vivian Woodward (1909), Dixie Dean (1927) and Tommy Taylor (1957).
Half-time: San Marino 0 - 6 England
45+2 mins: Four goals for Harry Kane, another headed goal from Harry Maguire and an own goal from Filippo Fabbri sees England head into the break with a dominant lead and a place next year’s World Cup.
Bukayo Saka thought he had scored but the goal has eventually been credited as an own goal from Fabbri.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments