EURO CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING STER

As Southgate’s new thrilling front three send out warning

even an injury to Eric Dier, which forced the Tottenham midfielder off after just 17 minutes.

Czech Republic midfielder Tomas Soucek was lucky to escape a yellow card for his brutal foul on Dier, but Southgate opted to bring on Ross Barkley for his attacking intent, rather than go like-forlike and give Declan Rice his debut.

It worked as well because Barkley was involved in the build-up for England’s opener.

After 24 minutes, the Chelsea man gave the ball to Kane, whose wonderful reverse pass unlocked the visiting defence, and sent Sancho scampering down the right. Sancho’s inch-perfect cross found Sterling storming in at the back post, and the City forward was never going to miss from close range, as he slid in with an outstretched left foot to steer home.

Incredibly, that was Sterling’s 22nd goal of the season for club and country and his irresistible form must put him in pole position for every Player of the Year gong, especially if City win the Premier League title.

That relaxed England, suddenly they were enjoying themselves. Sancho providing the flicks and tricks, Kane dropping deep to spray passes, Sterling looking lively and even Dele Alli prompting and probing from midfield.

England got a second in firsthalf injury time when, sure enough, it was an Alli flick which put in Sterling, and his directness panicked the Czech defence, Tomas Kalas and Pavel Kaderabek blocking him off as they conceded a penalty.

Up stepped Kane to drive the ball home from the spot (below), his shot so powerful Czech keeper Jiri Pavlenka got a hand to it but could not keep it out.

The Czechs tried to make a game of it after the break, but Sterling finished off the visitors after 61 minutes. Kane supplied the pass, Sterling the wonderful turn and clever finish.

Sterling got his hat-trick after 68 minutes when his shot from the edge of the box took a wicked deflection off Ondrej Celustka and left the keeper wrong-footed.

There is no way you can take that goal from him. Two minutes later, he went off to a standing ovation, making way for teenager Callum Hudson-odoi.

Kalas completed the embarrassment for the Czechs, as he put through his own net after Hudson-odoi’s shot was saved.

EARLY EXIT Dier was injured