ENGLAND 5, SAN MARINO 0
England kicked off their World Cup qualifying campaign with a customary goalfest against minnow San Marino at Wembley.
The nation of mainly part-timers from the world’s smallest republic with a population of only 33,000, were lambs to the slaughter as England could not have wished for a better night.
But there will much tougher challenges ahead including next week at home to Poland who are expected to be the main challengers for top spot in their group with only the winners guaranteed a place in the finals.
England had never scored less than five goals against San Marino and they took their total to 42 goals in seven matches.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored a brace while there were also goals for James Ward-Prowse, Raheem Sterling and debutant Ollie Watkins while the only disappointment was that England didn’t score even more.
They had 31 goal attempts, half on target, and with more clinical finishing would have hit double figures having been 3-0 ahead after little more than half an hour.
But a combination of fine goalkeeping from Elia Benedetti and wayward finishing meant England had to settle for five goals in a game they were always going to win, the only question by how wide a margin.
Embed from Getty ImagesEngland manager Gareth Southgate said: “It was an opponent we should beat, and we went about the job well.
“There were lots of good individual performances from highly motivated individuals.
“It is difficult to pick out individuals, but the midfield players impressed with Kalvin Phillips moving the ball well and showing athleticism.
“Mason Mount did well and Jesse Lingard showed he is enjoying his football again.”
Southgate added it was a “fairytale” for Watkins describing him as a “humble guy” who had settled in well on his first international call.
There was delight for Watkins who four years ago was playing for Exeter City and six years ago was loaned to non-league Weston-super-Mare.
He said: “It is unbelievable, something I have dreamed about. I was hoping to get a chance and to take it and score.
“I am speechless. It has been a good journey and I was honoured to come out and put on the shirt and play with the players. I am delighted, over the moon.
“I just wanted to get on to the pitch. I cannot believe it and was grateful to get the chance to play.”
Southgate’s line up for his 50th match – he is the first person to reach that landmark for England as a player and manager – was more notable for the players who weren’t selected or available.
There was no Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Harry Maguire, Jack Grealish, Jordan Henderson, James Maddison, Declan Rice, Luke Shaw and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
There was one minute’s applause before kick off in tribute to four England internationals who have died since the last international, Glenn Roeder, Frank Worthington, Colin Bell and Peter Swann.
England made a wasteful start as they could already have scored four goals by the time James Ward-Prowse opened the scoring in the 14th minute.
Calvert-Lewin, staking a claim for Kane’s usual starting spot, missed a sitter while Sterling, Jesse Lingard and John Stones all had great chances.
The breakthrough came when Ben Chilwell cut the ball back from the left for Ward-Prowse slotted home a low shot, his first England goal.
The advantage was doubled seven minutes when Calvert-Lewin headed home a cross from right-back Reece James.
It looked like the floodgates would open as Chilwell was denied by a super save from Benedetti, Calvert-Lewin header wide, Mason Mount’s effort was saved by the legs of the goalkeeper and Sterling had two great chances.
The third goal came shortly after the half hour when Mount provided the assist for Sterling who cut in from the left before his shot deflected past Benedetti for his 14th international goal.
England ought to have added to their total before the break as Sterling had two further chances, one brilliantly saved, and another fell to Calvert-Lewin.
Southgate made four changes for the restart as James, Stones, Mount and Sterling were replaced by Kieran Trippier, Tyrone Mings, Phil Foden and 17-year-old starlet Jude Bellingham.
Calvert-Lewin netted his fourth England goal soon after the restart, a simple tap-in from three yards after he could not fail to convert Lingard’s cross.
England made a fifth and final change in the 63rd minute when Calvert-Lewin was replaced by Aston Villa’s Watkins who was making his international debut.
Ward-Prowse was denied by a super stop by Benedetti who turned his free kick on to the upright.
Bellingham had a great chance to become England’s youngest-ever goalscorer, but hit a bicycle shot into the ground as the ball flew wide and the dynamic Lingard was denied by man-of-the-match Benedetti.
And Watkins made it a dream debut when he scored England’s fifth with seven minutes left with a low shot from the edge of the box.