England hit eight past San Marino

England completed the formalities of outclassing the minnows of San Marino to record their biggest win since October 1987.

Roy Hodgson's side repeated the eight-goal Wembley victory against Turkey in a predictable mis-match when faced with the country ranked lowest in the world standings in 207th place.
England can take credit for a job ruthlessly done and will be pleased to have suffered no injuries or any serious alarms before they head to Podgorica for Tuesday's more testing World Cup qualifier against group leaders Montenegro, who are two points clear of England having beaten Moldova.
Allesandro Della Valle's early own goal set England on their way and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jermain Defoe, Ashley Young and Frank Lampard added more before the interval.

England's thumping victory

• England last scored eight goals when they beat Turkey 8-0 in a 1987 European Championship qualifier at Wembley
• The victory fell short of a 9-0 win over Luxembourg in 1982
• England also recorded their biggest win over San Marino after beating them 7-1 in a World Cup qualifier in 1993 when the minnows famously scored after eight seconds

Wayne Rooney, substitute Daniel Sturridge and another from Defoe completed the rout as England creditably refused to let up in the quest to improve their goal difference.

With the host's best foray resulting in a second-half corner, the merits of such an embarrassingly one-sided World Cup meeting will be debated again. But England could only exert their vast superiority in a professional manner - which they did in impressive fashion.
Hodgson kept captain Steven Gerrard back for Montenegro while Ashley Cole, one yellow card away from suspension, was replaced by Leighton Baines.
And Baines was heavily involved as the procession started early, crossing from the left and forcing Della Valle to turn the ball past his own keeper Aldo Simoncini.
The rest of the half was predictably one-sided as England took up permanent residence in close proximity to San Marino's goal and rattled up the scoreline.

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Oxlade-Chamberlain, in the side after Arsenal team-mate Theo Walcott prepared to return to England with a groin injury picked up in training, then added the second with some fine footwork and a cool finish.
Defoe had already had a goal ruled out for offside when he put England three up after 35 minutes. He scored from virtually on the line after Rooney's cross picked out Oxlade-Chamberlain at the far post.
The woeful standard of opposition meant it was almost an open invitation for England to score goals but there was no dispute about the quality of the fourth goal as Young rattled a magnificent rising 25-yard finish past Simoncini.
And Lampard, captain on his 95th England appearance, made it five just before half-time as he was the beneficiary of more fine work from Baines to score in composed fashion.
Rio Ferdinand, who withdrew from the England team to stick to administered training programme, was the subject of abusive chanting from the visiting England fans.
But on the pitch, Rooney - who was a focal point for England - deservedly got on the scoresheet nine minutes after the restart with an excellent free-kick beyond the reach of the besieged Simoncini.
It was his final contribution as Hodgson removed him with the more taxing examination in mind. He and Tom Cleverley were replaced by Leon Osman and Daniel Sturridge.
And Liverpool's £15m striker wasted no time getting on the scoresheet with a simple header from Young's perfect cross before Defoe scored another poacher's goal to make it 8-0.
It was the final act as the final whistle put San Marino out of their misery.

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)

San Marino

• 01 Simoncini
• 02 Vitaioli
• 03 Palazzi
• 05 Della Valle
• 06 Simoncini Booked
• 09 Cervellini Booked
• 04 Gasperoni
• 08 Bollini (Valentini - 81' )
• 11 Cibelli (Buscarini - 67' )
• 07 Vitaioli
• 10 Selva (Rinaldi - 74' )

Substitutes

• 12 Valentini
• 13 Bacciocchi
• 19 Valentini
• 15 Buscarini
• 16 Coppini
• 17 Della Valle
• 20 Vannucci
• 14 Bianchi
• 18 Rinaldi

England

• 01 Hart
• 02 Walker
• 03 Baines
• 05 Lescott
• 06 Smalling
• 04 Cleverley (Osman - 56' )
• 07 Oxlade-Chamberlain
• 08 Lampard (Parker - 66' )
• 11 Young
• 09 Defoe
• 10 Rooney (Sturridge - 55' )

Substitutes

• 13 Foster
• 23 Forster
• 14 Cole
• 15 S Taylor
• 16 Caulker
• 12 Parker
• 17 Milner
• 18 Gerrard
• 19 Carrick
• 20 Osman
• 21 Welbeck
• 22 Sturridge

Ref: Alain Bieri

Att: 4,900

Match Stats

Shots

1 28

On target

0 19

Corners

1 15

Fouls

11 5

Live Text Commentary

89:47 Full time

Full Time The referee signals the end of the game.

89:39 Leon Osman concedes a free kick for a foul on Danilo Rinaldi. Free kick taken by Fabio Vitaioli.
89:07 Free kick awarded for a foul by Michele Cervellini on Leon Osman. Leon Osman restarts play with the free kick.
88:16 Leon Osman challenges Matteo Vitaioli unfairly and gives away a free kick. Carlo Valentini restarts play with the free kick.
83:53 Close range headed effort by Jermain Defoe goes wide of the left-hand post.
79:51 Substitution

Substitution Fabio Bollini goes off and Carlo Valentini comes on.

79:51 Leon Osman has an effort at goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.
79:34 The ball is crossed by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, save by Aldo Simoncini.
78:24 Free kick awarded for a foul by Leighton Baines on Alex Gasperoni. Direct free kick taken by Fabio Vitaioli.
76:39 Assist by Kyle Walker.
76:39 Goal scored

Goal - Jermain Defoe - San Marino 0 - 8 England Jermain Defoe gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom right corner of the goal. San Marino 0-8 England.

74:23 Unfair challenge on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain by Michele Cervellini results in a free kick. Leighton Baines produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick, save by Aldo Simoncini.
73:49 Substitution

Substitution Danilo Rinaldi joins the action as a substitute, replacing Andy Selva.

71:48 A cross is delivered by Leighton Baines, save by Aldo Simoncini.
70:52 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Leighton Baines.
69:25 Ashley Young provided the assist for the goal.
69:25 Goal scored

Goal - Daniel Sturridge - San Marino 0 - 7 England Daniel Sturridge finds the net with a headed goal from close in. San Marino 0-7 England.

68:46 Leon Osman fouled by Andy Selva, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Leon Osman.
66:40 Substitution

Substitution Lorenzo Buscarini replaces Enrico Cibelli.

65:24 Substitution

Substitution (England) makes a substitution, with Scott Parker coming on for Frank Lampard.

65:24 Shot from just outside the box by Leon Osman goes over the bar.
64:33 Inswinging corner taken by Matteo Vitaioli from the right by-line, save by Joe Hart.
63:35 Leon Osman gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Alex Gasperoni. Davide Simoncini takes the free kick.
63:11 Shot from just outside the box by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain goes over the crossbar.
61:10 Shot from just outside the box by Fabio Bollini goes over the bar.
60:22 Jermain Defoe has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the goal.
60:22 Effort from the edge of the penalty box by Ashley Young goes wide of the right-hand upright.
58:16 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain crosses the ball, Close range headed effort by Daniel Sturridge goes wide of the left-hand upright.
58:16 Booking

Booking Michele Cervellini goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.

58:07 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Leon Osman by Michele Cervellini.
56:33 The official flags Ashley Young offside. Free kick taken by Aldo Simoncini.
54:37 Substitution

Substitution Leon Osman is brought on as a substitute for Tom Cleverley.

54:37 Substitution

Substitution Daniel Sturridge on for Wayne Rooney.

53:14 Jermain Defoe provided the assist for the goal.
53:14 Goal scored

Goal - Wayne Rooney - San Marino 0 - 6 England Wayne Rooney hits the back of the net with a goal direct from the free kick from outside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal. San Marino 0-6 England.

52:11 Booking

Booking Davide Simoncini goes into the referee's book.

51:58 Davide Simoncini concedes a free kick for a foul on Jermain Defoe.
49:33 Wayne Rooney takes a shot. Blocked by Matteo Vitaioli. Wayne Rooney takes a shot. Save by Aldo Simoncini. Leighton Baines takes a inswinging corner.
47:12 Alex Gasperoni gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Direct free kick taken by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
45:01 The second half kicks off.
38:38 Goal scored

Goal - Ashley Young - San Marino 0 - 4 England Ashley Young finds the net with a goal from just outside the area to the top left corner of the goal. San Marino 0-4 England.

45:00 +0:03 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to signal half-time.

44:04 Wayne Rooney takes a shot. Save made by Aldo Simoncini.
41:23 Leighton Baines provided the assist for the goal.
41:23 Goal scored

Goal - Frank Lampard - San Marino 0 - 5 England Frank Lampard finds the net with a goal from inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. San Marino 0-5 England.

40:23 Andy Selva concedes a free kick for a foul on Kyle Walker. Free kick taken by Kyle Walker.
38:38 Assist by Leighton Baines.
38:38 Goal scored

Goal - Ashley Young - San Marino 0 - 4 England Ashley Young finds the back of the net with a goal from just outside the penalty box to the top left corner of the goal. San Marino 0-4 England.

37:39 Frank Lampard takes a shot. Save by Aldo Simoncini.
34:50 Assist on the goal came from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
34:50 Goal scored

Goal - Jermain Defoe - San Marino 0 - 3 England Jermain Defoe fires in a goal from close range to the bottom left corner of the goal. San Marino 0-3 England.

33:13 The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Aldo Simoncini.
32:26 Foul by Andy Selva on Tom Cleverley, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Tom Cleverley.
31:05 Kyle Walker delivers the ball, clearance made by Davide Simoncini. Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Leighton Baines.
27:54 Assist on the goal came from Wayne Rooney.
27:54 Goal scored

Goal - Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - San Marino 0 - 2 England Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the box high into the middle of the goal. San Marino 0-2 England.

26:40 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Leighton Baines.
25:36 Fabio Bollini concedes a free kick for a foul on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Direct free kick taken by Frank Lampard.
23:52 Ashley Young takes a shot. Clearance by Alessandro Della Valle. Outswinging corner taken by Frank Lampard, clearance made by Alex Gasperoni.
21:17 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Tom Cleverley, Ashley Young takes a shot. Clearance by Alessandro Della Valle. Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Tom Cleverley.
20:45 Leighton Baines fouled by Fabio Vitaioli, the ref awards a free kick. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Leighton Baines from left wing.
20:02 Handball decision goes against Andy Selva. Joleon Lescott restarts play with the free kick.
19:07 The ball is crossed by Wayne Rooney, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain takes a shot. Mirko Palazzi gets a block in. Corner taken right-footed by Wayne Rooney from the right by-line, Header on goal by Frank Lampard from just inside the area goes over the goal.
15:47 Andy Selva is caught offside. Free kick taken by Joe Hart.
14:50 Leighton Baines takes the inswinging corner, Jermain Defoe has a header from inside the six-yard box and clears the crossbar.
11:41 The assist for the goal came from Leighton Baines.
11:41 Goal scored

Goal - Alessandro Della Valle - San Marino 0 - 1 England Alessandro Della Valle puts the ball into his own net. San Marino 0-1 England.

10:45 The official flags Jermain Defoe offside. Aldo Simoncini takes the free kick.
10:04 Matteo Vitaioli gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain takes the direct free kick.
9:36 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain takes a shot.
8:22 Corner taken right-footed by Ashley Young from the left by-line, Wayne Rooney takes a shot. Aldo Simoncini makes a save.
7:55 Corner taken right-footed by Leighton Baines, save by Aldo Simoncini.
6:50 Frank Lampard takes a shot. Aldo Simoncini makes a save. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Leighton Baines from the right by-line, Chris Smalling takes a shot. Clearance by Fabio Vitaioli. Corner from the left by-line taken by Leighton Baines, Davide Simoncini manages to make a clearance.
5:16 Free kick awarded for a foul by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on Mirko Palazzi. Alessandro Della Valle restarts play with the free kick.
4:42 Leighton Baines decides to take a short corner.
2:51 Jermain Defoe delivers the ball, Frank Lampard takes a shot. Clearance by Mirko Palazzi. Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Jermain Defoe.
2:14 The ball is crossed by Jermain Defoe, save by Aldo Simoncini.
0:00 The referee gets the match started.

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