We knew it was going to be important, we knew that it would be an easy game, as Internationals go, but I don't think anyone quite envisaged England scoring TEN goals!  What a thrashing for a poor San Marino side, one almost felt sorry for them……almost!

Right from the start there was no messing from the 'up for it' England team and they pushed forward relentlessly.  After just four minutes Bukayo Saka skated round a defender but just overhit his cross.  England then quickly won a corner and from Phil Foden's kick, in steamed Harry Maguire to crash home a header to start the ball rolling, as he had done against Albania the previous Friday.  It was just what the doctor ordered.

The lively Saka's pace was causing the home defence problems and another cross went across goal without anyone attacking the ball.  Emile Smith Rowe then saw his header blocked and cleared, and then with 15 minutes gone England made it 2-0.  Saka was again the instigator as he cut inside, fired in a cross and Fillipo Fabbri stuck out a foot and deflected the ball into his own net.  Fabio Tomassini was then booked for pulling back Foden, one of five bookings San Marino received, more of that later.  Jude Bellingham combined with Saka to fire in another shot, but he slipped as he shot and the ball was easily saved.  It was noticeable that big divots were appearing and several players were struggling to keep their feet.  England were playing the ball around and tiring the San Marino players and on 23 minutes the visitors extended their lead.

Saka's cross was met by a flying scissors kick from Foden, but the ball flew wide.  Unfortunately for the home side VAR was called upon because the ball struck the hand of Dante Rossi on the way to it going wide.  His hand was high and although he tried to pull his hand away, a penalty and a booking resulted.  A little bit harsh to say the least, but Harry Kane was never going to look a gift horse in the mouth, and his spot-kick was emphatic.

What was good about England on this night was their ruthlessness, and a wonderful trademark pass by Foden found Saka, but although the Arsenal man stretched for it, he could not quite get any power behind his effort.  That came on the half-hour and two minutes later it was 4-0.  Smith Rowe crossed from the left and Kane was there again, to score with his left-foot.  His shot was somewhat scuffed, but who cares, it went in!  A minute later and San Marino had their first shot on target.  Nicola Nanni fired in a good shot and Aaron Ramsdale had to dive full length to turn the ball around the post.  The goalkeeper also did well to punch away a good corner that followed.

On 37 minutes a Kane header strikes the hand of  Alessandro D'Addario and once again the referee gives England another penalty.  The players queued up to take the kick, even I was in the queue, but Harry wasn't having any of that, what, with him on the verge of yet another hat-trick?  Up he stepped with a spot-kick even more emphatic than the other one, right in the top corner.  Kane was breaking records almost by the minute, and they are all recorded elsewhere on this page.

Before we all had time to draw breath, that man was there again, with his own fourth and England's sixth goal before the half-time whistle sounded.  Kane picked up the ball in the area, surrounded by defenders, he jinked, he swayed, and then put the ball into the corner of the net.  The look of bewilderment on the San Marino faces said it all.  Even then, Saka nearly scored another, as his close range shot flew over the bar, and as the whistle went the home players were not exactly sprinting to the safety of the dressing room, but it seemed like it.  An unbelievable half by England.

Several substitutes were made by both teams at the restart with England bringing on Ben Chilwell, Tammy Abraham and debutant Conor Gallagher for Kalvin Phillips, Foden and Maguire.  Thankfully Kane was still on and he had "five, six, seven, eight" lighting up in his eyes!  England were quickly back on to the front foot with Smith Rowe's weak chip saved and then Abraham missing a sitter as Kane put him through clear on goal.  His chip went over and he really should have made it seven.  But we didn't have to wait long for that number to be reached as a terrific move saw Chilwell's fabulous long pass out to Saka end with a cross into the middle where Abraham's backheeled pass fell into the path of Smith Rowe and he scored a fine first goal for his country.

Gareth Southgate, what are you doing?  62 minutes gone and he is taking off Kane, the same Harry Kane who is just a few goals away from Wayne's record, how dare he!

Meanwhile, Gallagher is enjoying himself as he comes close from a Chilwell pass, and then turns brilliantly away from Rossi, only for the latter to cynically bring him down.  It was a costly error for the already booked San Marino player as his second yellow card also brings a red with it.  Then, from the free-kick by Trent Alexander-Arnold, Tyrone Mings scores with a header to open his England account.  On 71 minutes Gallagher hit the post and then Bellingham scored again, only for VAR to rule it out following an innocuous challenge by Abraham.  So, still only 8-0 but that soon changed as Abraham scored another fine goal after a superb Alexander-Arnold pass is controlled and swivelled on by Abraham, firing his shot into the corner.

The England fans were chanting for ten, and a minute later they got their wish as once again an Alexander-Arnold beautiful cross found its mark.  There was Saka scoring with a close range header, to complete an excellent night's work from the Arsenal youngster.

The match ended with an Abraham goal ruled out for a foul, several more chances created, but missed, and a referee's whistle that finally put an end to San Marino's misery.  England are at the World Cup next year, and it was a job done and finished  in some style.  It has been a fabulous year for the England team, with an incredible run of results, and who knows, maybe Harry Kane's next hat-trick will win us the final next year?  Let's hope so.
  

Source Notes