FIFA’s 210th and lowest-ranked nation, San Marino was ruthlessly thrashed and England were as professional as they were relentless and booked their place at next year’s World Cup in Qatar.
This massive victory for England places top of Group I, six points clear of second-place Poland, and can set their sights on Qatar 2022, their seventh-successive World Cup finals appearance, where Gareth Southgate will hope to build on an encouraging 2021 by securing the biggest prize of all.
England scored ten goals in one game for the first time since 1964.
Harry Kane scored four goals in 15 minutes to move level with Gary Lineker on 48 England goals while Harry Maguire, Emile Smith Rowe, Bukayo Saka (2), Tyrone Mings and Tammy Abraham also got on the scoresheet.
Kane is first England player after Ian Wright in 1993 to score four goals in just a single game as he took his international goals to level with Gary Lineker in the scoring charts.
Kane has attracted an awful lot of criticism for his performances at club level this season, but his current performance could well be playing himself into form, and winning the man of the match too.
Emile Smith Rowe marked his first England start with a goal 13 minutes after the interval.
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