England win with ease: Hodgson’s men put five past San Marino

England (14/1 to win Euro 2016) made relatively easy work of San Marino, and enjoyed what was, on the surface, a resounding 5-0 win in front of their home fans, to temporarily top Group E on goal difference.

Despite the headline-grabbing result, however, Roy Hodgson’s side did little of note in an encounter that was there was there for the taking, with few seizing what could have been a golden opportunity to impress.

The Three Lions boasted four different scorers on an evening where they took their time getting into top gear, with Merseyside derby hero Phil Jagielka returning to the fold for the first time since England’s World Cup debacle.

Everton’s man of the moment found himself amongst the goals yet again, opening the floodgates with an easy header, as keeper/accountant Also Simoncini fumbled his lines by falling over in the box.

Wayne Rooney was the headline act in what was a fairly routine and slightly lacklustre victory, as the skipper won, and converted, a penalty for his side just before the break. San Marino striker Andy Selva raised his boot too high, giving the Manchester United forward the chance to double England’s lead with a powerful spot-kick.

Whilst it may not have been the most memorable goal of Rooney’s career, it was his 42nd in a Three Lions shirt, putting him just seven behind record scorer and World Cup winner Sir Bobby Charlton. He is, however, the first England player ever to get 30 competitive strikes.

Rooney’s former Red Devils strike partner Danny Welbeck also got in on the act, and continues to enhance his international stats in Daniel Sturridge’s absence. The Arsenal attacker benefitted from Roy Hodgson’s half time substitutions; changes which saw limp Liverpool duo Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling exchanged for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Adam Lallana.

England improved after the switches, ramping up the pressure on a San Marino side who were offering little resistance. Oxlade-Chamberlain gave the Three Lions an injection of pace and width, combining with clubmate Welbeck to make it 3-0. The fleet-footed winger sent in a low cross for Welbeck, who duly dispatched to rack up his third goal in two games.