'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgb/2gAIAQEAAAAAjB//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAF/9oACAECEAAAAD//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAE/9oACAEDEAAAADf/xAAfEAACAQQCAwAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMEBREiAAYWUWH/2gAIAQEAAT8A8Ot9Paq0UsQLAB42m2w6ZC5GPROeL02ySqJJKCNXfZljeQKD825//8QAGREAAQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgABAxEh/9oACAECAQE/AClOm1f/xAAZEQEAAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACAAEDYcH/2gAIAQMBAT8AORUVe+T/2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
England registered a 6-0 win away against San Marino as the Three Lions became the first team to qualify for the Euro 2016 with three games to spare.
Wayne Rooney equalled Sir Bobby Charlton's goalscoring record as the Manchester United captain, on the occasion of his 106th cap, matched the Red Devils legends’ haul by scoring a goal for his side and taking his tally to 49 in international football.
England opened their scoring in the 13th minute after the visitors were awarded a soft penalty and Rooney stepped up to make it 1-0. And it was an English show from then on as Cristian Brolli doubled the advantage with an own goal which came off from a Luke Shaw cross.
Trending
Ross Barkley's header tripled their advantage to 3-0 shortly after the interval, before substitutes Fabian Delph and Theo Walcott combined for the fourth.
Harry Kane, who came on as a replacement for Rooney in the second half, chipped the visitors into a 5-0 lead, and Walcott rounded off the scoring with his second of the match as England convincingly sealed their place in next year's tournament in France.
With John Stones, Jonjo Shelvey and Jamie Vardy included from the start, Roy Hodgson was looking to learn more about the depth of talent at his disposal, but it was the most familiar of England faces who broke the deadlock for the visitors.
Walcott scores a brace, Shelvey bags an assist
San Marino were unfortunate to have been penalised by the match official after a free-kick from James Milner touched John Stones’ hand but Marco Berardi ended up getting booked and Rooney converted from the spot to become England’s all-time joint top scorer with Charlton.
Goalkeeper Aldo Simoncini was called into play by Rooney six minutes later from a tight angle with Milner unable to find the target from the rebound, but England continued to dominate on a challenging playing surface and soon doubled their advantage.
Luke Shaw sent in a dangerous cross from the left and, desperate to get a head to it, Brolli inadvertently diverted the ball beyond his own goalkeeper.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain played a key role as England moved 3-0 in front less than a minute into the second half, hanging in a cross from the right for Barkley to head home.
Walcott made it 4-0 moments after being introduced in place of Arsenal team-mate Oxlade-Chamberlain in the 67th minute by tapping in at the far post from a Delph cross.
Rooney was substituted just short of the hour mark and in stepped Tottenham striker Harry Kane who confidently lifted the ball over Simoncini after being played in by a wonderful Shelvey pass in the 77th minute. Walcott completed his brace a minute later as his shot went across the San Marino goalkeeper.
San Marino managed their first shot on target through Danilo Rinaldi in the closing stages, but the result was never in doubt and Hodgson can now turn his attentions to planning for next year's tournament.
Watch a San Marino player describe exactly what the game was like:
what a stateVine by sausage scarf
Watch the full highlights here:
