ENGLAND have hammered Albania in World Cup qualifying.
Harry Kane netted a first half hat-trick, including a bicycle kick, as the Three Lions went on to win 5-0.
And Emile Smith Rowe got a chance to show what he could do as he came on for his Three Lions debut.
GOODNIGHT
One game to go in Group I, and England are almost there.
After the disappointment of draws with Poland and Hungary, the Three Lions gave their fans cause to dream again with a scintillating first half display that blew Albania away.
Harrys and the Henderson took centre stage in the opening 45 minutes with Kane hitting a perfect hat-trick as Maguire and Jordan also got themselves on the scoresheet.
We’ll be back on Monday to see Gareth Southgate’s side seal the deal by claiming the point they need. Until then, try not to think about the last time England faced San Marino needing a result…
“Oh, and a mistake by Stuart Pearce…”
ONE POINT REQUIRED
After tonight’s success, England face European minnows San Marino in Serravalle on Monday needing just one point to confirm their place at the 2022 World Cup.
Poland ensured they will at least participate in the play-offs after their victory in Andorra while Hungary inflicted yet another heavy defeat on San Marino.
- Andorra 1-4 Poland
- England 5-0 Albania
- Hungary 4-0 San Marino
Credit: UEFA.Com SOUTHGATE REACTION
A delighted Gareth Southgate was full of praise for his players, particularly for their thrilling first half performance. The England head coach singled out Harry Kane not just for his hat-trick, but his all-round performance.
The first half was fantastic, as well as we’ve played for a long time. It’s always difficult to maintain that when you’re so far ahead, but we were still professional in the second half. Unfortunately, we were unable to give the crowd more goals.
We’re best when we have an edge. We didn’t produce what we should have done against Hungary, and we wanted to put that right. We had a game tonight to put us on the verge of qualification for the World Cup.
I thought [Harry Kane] gave a brilliant centre-forward’s performance tonight. He competed, he held the ball up, he played other people in, and his finishing was outstanding. I thought his all-round game was excellent.
Gareth Southgate
STATS MAGIC
It was a thoroughly dominant performance from Gareth Southgate’s team at Wembley tonight, and one that leaves them needing just a point from a game with the lowest ranked international team in the world to qualify for Qatar 2022.
Credit: @Squawka Twitter FT: ENGLAND 5-0 ALBANIA
A comprehensive win for the Three Lions, who did their damage in the first half with five goals that blew Albania away. Harry Kane got his form back on track with a perfect hat-trick, Harry Maguire also answered his critics with a goal, while Jordan Henderson was also on the scoresheet. The result means England just need to avoid defeat to San Marino on Monday to seal their place at Qatar 2022.
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
THE FINAL WHISTLE IS BLOWN!ENGLAND 5-0 ALBANIA
90. The fourth official’s board goes up to signal an extra two minutes.
Come on, England, that’s just enough time to make one final paper plane to launch on to the pitch.
ENGLAND 5-0 ALBANIA
89. Slick passing outside of the area between Abraham and Smith Rowe present Bellingham with a chance to strike.
The Dortmund start, however, instead opts to play into the path of the overlapping Alexander-Arnold, whose shot is promptly blocked.
The former Birmingham starlet would have been better going for goal himself.
ENGLAND 5-0 ALBANIA
87. For a team that hasn’t done much attacking tonight, Albania’s forwards seem to have been caught offside an awful lot.
ENGLAND 5-0 ALBANIA
85. Smith Rowe tees up Grealish on the left, and the Manchester City man goes about doing his thing.
Grealish slowly toys with his marker as he enters the box, eventually glides beyond him and then arrows a shot wide of the near post.
ENGLAND 5-0 ALBANIA
83. The attendance has just been announced as 80,366 – which is approximately half of the amount that managed to bunk their way in for the Euro 2020 final.
ENGLAND 5-0 ALBANIA
81. Inside the final ten minutes, and – as football law dictates in these situations – there have been no goals to add to the glut from the first half.
ENGLAND 5-0 ALBANIA
79. Smith Rowe is only just on, but that’s not going to stop him going on a mazy run with the ball.
The substitute clearly wants to keep things simple but space opens up in front of him and so he goes on and on.
Eventually, the presence of Ismajli takes him crashing to the floor, and no free-kick is forthcoming.
ENGLAND 5-0 ALBANIA
77. Here’s the change. Trent Alexander-Arnold replaces James, whose club will be hoping he returns to fully fit after the international break.
There’s another substitution being made too, and it will see an England debut for Emile Smith Rowe. The Arsenal midfielder comes on to a great ovation, and will replace Raheem Sterling.
ENGLAND 5-0 ALBANIA
75. James still doesn’t look quite right. Surely he needs to be sat out for the remainders of this contest.
ENGLAND 5-0 ALBANIA
73. For a split second, Abraham looks poised to connect with another James’ cross and a sixth goal looks incoming.
However, there’s just too much pace on the cross as it stretches beyond the striker.
Grealish keeps the ball alive, but eventually his low fizzed cross is cut out by Strakosha.
ENGLAND 5-0 ALBANIA
71. The paper aeroplanes have started…
ENGLAND 5-0 ALBANIA
70. James is up, back in the action and almost on the scoresheet.
The Chelsea man races on to a cut-back in the box to shoot at goal, but instead sends his shot curling away from the far post rather than towards it.
Perhaps a less concussed player would have scored it.
ENGLAND 5-0 ALBANIA
68. The stretchers have been sent back by the England medical team, and both Stones and James look set to continue.
It seems something of an unnecessary risk considering the scoreline.
ENGLAND 5-0 ALBANIA
67. Treatment continues on the field for both men. Stones is now up on his feet, but James remains down.
Laci has been yellow carded for his part in the incident which may seem harsh considering it was a legitimate effort at goal, but it can certainly be deemed as dangerous play.
ENGLAND 5-0 ALBANIA
65. Ouch! This looks a really sore one for John Stones and Reece James.
The two England defenders both threw themselves at the ball to block an acrobatic Qazim Laci scissor kick, and not only felt the full force of the Albanian’s boot but also clashed heads.
ENGLAND 5-0 ALBANIA
63. Here we go! Harry Kane has a confidence-boosting hat-trick to his name, but he won’t be adding any more to it. The England captain has done his job and takes his leave for the evening – he can join in the Mexican Wave now.
Also off are Kalvin Phillips and Phil Foden. Tammy Abraham, Jude Bellingham, and Jack Grealish are the players on as replacements.
ENGLAND 5-0 ALBANIA
61. Gareth Southgate is preparing a triple substitution but Smith Rowe doesn’t look to be one of those. The Arsenal man will have to wait.
ENGLAND 5-0 ALBANIA
59. The Mexican Waves have started – which is usually a good sign that a once exciting game has slipped into lull status.
ENGLAND 5-0 ALBANIA
57. Sterling is desperate to join the party and get himself a confidence-boosting goal.
The forward has made a number of incisive runs this evening, but it’s yet to really happen for him.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
