Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ENGLAND ROUT TO IMPRESS Strikers shoot for the stars as 3 Lions help themselves.. but it should have been more
NO wonder Harry Kane wanted to play against San Marino.
This was more shooting practice than World Cup qualifier and Englandcould have feasted on more goals against the lowest-ranked team in world football.
Tottenham goal machine Kane looked on from the stands, wishing he’d been given the opportunity to close in on Wayne Rooney’s England tally. After all, he is only 21 behind.
So much for Nick Pope getting a chance to impress in Jordan Pickford’s absence – England could have played without a keeper and still not let a goal in.
It really was that easy for Gareth Southgate’s men, but two-goal Dominic Calvertlewin won’t let that detract from a good night’s work.
This was like a batsman getting his averages up, or a golfer working on his handicap. And yet, despite a fivegoal spree, England should have scored more.
San Marino, 210 in the FIFA rankings, are the World Cup minnows who have never in their history won a competitive match. Merely to play at Wembley was a dream come true for their bunch of part-timers.
But it served little purpose for Southgate (below) other than to parade a nice new blue cardigan. The England boss somehow made waistcoats fashionable back in 2018 – now cardigans might just make a comeback for the next World Cup.
Southgate promised an entertaining performance to lift the nation’s spirits in lockdown but there’s not too much entertainment to be had in watching a procession. Certainly not in the second half after a string of changes.
In Southgate’s 50th game in charge it was hard to know what he could have learned other than the fact his strikers at times can be rather wasteful in their finishing. If they had been more clinical last night, England could have declared at half-time.
San Marino keeper
Elia Benedettini, who plays for Italian Serie C side Cesena, made a string of terrific saves and, despite being on the end of another thrashing, was their hero on the night.
Raheem Sterling missed two easy chances, Calvertlewin missed a sitter, John Stones scooped a ball over the bar from five yards, and a revitalised Jesse Lingard was thwarted by a terrific save from the overworked San Marino stopper.
And that was all before the floodgates opened in the 14th minute when Southampton’s James Wardprowse swept home Ben Chilwell’s low cross to show the strikers how it was done.
Calvertlewin finally got in on the act after 21 minutes when he headed in a brilliant Reece James cross – the two Chelsea full backs really caught the eye on their Euro auditions.
It was 3-0 after 31 minutes when Mason Mount seized on a poor pass out from the back and played in Sterling, whose shot was deflected in at the near post.
Sterling, who started the night as captain, was replaced at half-time by Etihad team-mate Phil Foden and Wolves defender Conor Coady took over the armband in a show of appreciation from Southgate.
Lingard also made his point in a good all-round display by setting up Calvertlewin for a tap-in just before the Everton striker was replaced by Ollie Watkins.
Villa’s Watkins crowned his England debut by scoring a fifth with an empathic finish, and his broad smile and celebration said it all.
It was more cakewalk than any sort of test and they should have ended up with a healthier goal difference but England have successfully negotiated the first steps on the road to Qatar.