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Hoping to confirm their place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, England made the trip to San Marino for their final World Cup Qualifier. The Three Lions, who had thrashed Albania 5-0 in their previous fixture, were the overwhelming favorites against the hosts on Monday night. In the end, the massively lop-sided 10-0 outcome surprised no one.
San Marino, were on a nine-game losing streak, conceded through a Harry Maguire header just six minutes into the game. Nine minutes later, a Filippo Fabbri own-goal put them two goals behind.
Harry Kane joined the party with a perfect penalty and then doubled his tally with a scruffy left-footed finish. Eight minutes before the half-time whistle, Kane converted another penalty. This time, even more emphatically. The England skipper added another just before half-time to put England 6-0 up.
Emile Smith-Rowe, Tyrone Mings, Tammy Abraham and Bukayo Saka added to the tally in the second 45, taking England’s goal tally to double figures.
The 10-0 drubbing at home saw San Marino finish their 2022 World Cup Qualifying campaign without picking up a single point. Unsurprisingly, they only managed to score once in 10 games, conceding 45.
England, who booked their ticket to Qatar with the emphatic win, had plenty of five-star performers against San Marino.
Here are the five England internationals who were a notch above the rest:
#5 Tyrone Mings
England left centre-back Tyrone Mings enjoyed a straightforward night in San Marino. He contributed to England’s attacks when needed and did well to thwart San Marino’s encouraging build-up in the second half.
Mings also had the second-most touches in the game and showed impressive game-reading ability.
Mings’ knack for being in the right place at the right time earned him his first international goal on Monday night.
He was at the end of a perfectly-executed Trent Alexander-Arnold delivery and did well to beat the San Marino keeper from close range.
#4 Bukayo Saka
Arsenal youngster Bukayo Saka started on the left wing for England and kept the San Marino defenders on their toes all night long.
His acceleration, movement and passing carved the defense open multiple times, allowing England to bombard the San Marino goal.
Saka, who registered four shots, with two being on target, got on the scoresheet in the second half. A neat cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold found him inside the area and the 20-year-old converted emphatically from the six-yard box, making it 10 for England.
Saka also had the most touches in the San Marino box and was involved in Emile Smith-Rowe’s goal.
#3 Trent Alexander-Arnold
Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold is widely hailed as the best right-back in the world. Against San Marino, he proved why he is worthy of that lofty title.
Alexander-Arnold was uncharacteristically quiet in the first 45 and looked set for an average night. However, he came to life emphatically in the second half, providing a hat-trick of assists.
He kicked things off with an excellent free-kick delivery into the box in the 69th minute. Tyrone Mings pounced on a peachy delivery to bag his first England goal.
Nine minutes later, Alexander-Arnold delivered a high cross into the area, which was chested down and finished cleverly by substitute Tammy Abraham.
Finally, the right-back capped off his and England’s night with another gem of a delivery, which led to Saka’s well-deserved goal.
#2 Emile Smith-Rowe
Premier League giants Arsenal are in dire need of creative reinforcements. They need players who know what the crest stands for and can deliver match-winning performances on cue. Thankfully, the likes of Emile Smith-Rowe and Bukayo Saka are shaping up to be the perfect flagbearers for Arsenal.
Like Saka, Smith-Rowe was also in sensational form for England on Tuesday night. Starting his first game for England's senior team, Smith-Rowe was under the microscope against San Marino. The 21-year-old did not let the pressure get to him and looked sure-footed right from the get go.
Smith-Rowe combined well with Kalvin Phillips to get into a crossing position on the left-hand side. He delivered the ball into the San Marino box, allowing Harry Kane to get his second on the night.
The debutant also got on the scoresheet himself, just before the hour mark. Played through on goal by Tammy Abraham’s clever backheel, Emile Smith-Rowe smashed the ball home from close range to bag his first England senior-team goal.
#1 Harry Kane
Harry Kane may not be in the best of form for Tottenham Hotspur lately, but he is looking as sharp as ever in England’s colors. Kane, who scored an impressive first-half hat-trick in his previous England appearance against Albania, replicated his heroics at the Stadio Olimpico di Serravalle.
Kane got his first from the penalty spot in the 27th minute after a handball decision went England’s way. He doubled his tally four minutes later with a left-footed finish before bagging his third from another well-taken penalty.
Kane’s final goal of the night came three minutes before halftime. The Tottenham Hotspur ace left two San Marino defenders in the dust to smash the ball home.
His four-goal haul made him the first Englishman to score four goals in a match after Ian Wright’s exploits against the same opposition in 1993.
