Topics: FIFA World Cup Qualifier, San Marino, England, Harry Kane
Gareth Southgate's men went out with all guns blazing in Monday night's trip to San Marino.

England secured an automatic qualifcation to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar in grand fashion by registering a big win in their meeting with San Marino on Monday night. The Three Lions beat defeated their hosts by 10 goals to nil to top Group I with 26 points as second-placed Poland collapsed in their last-ditch attempt to spoil their plans.

Harry Maguire, after coming under immense scrutiny for his controversial goal celebration in the previous win over Albania, opened the floodgates for the influx of goals inside the sixth minute before an own-goal by Filippo Fabbri in the 15 minute practically ruled out any potential upset. A penalty awarded in favor of Phil Foden in the 25 minute was subsequently converted by Harry Kane who will go ahead and score three more goals in the 31st, 39th and 42nd minutes respectively.

Arsenal sensation Emile Smith Rowe, in what was his first start for England after making his debut in the penultimate encounter with Albania, scored his first goal for the side in the 58th minute before Tyron Mings also got his first 11 minutes later. Borussia Dortmund starlet Jude Bellingham would have equally attained the same fate after findng the back of the San Marino net but had his goal overruled after a VAR check revealed that Tammy Abraham had fouled an opposition player in the buld-up to the goal. 

The Chelsea man ended up getting a goal of his own before Bukayo Saka took the scoreline to double figures as Trent Alexander-Arnold also made it three assists in a row. Here are all the records and milestones that were revised by the result:

  • England have won more games (15), scored more goals (52) and kept more clean sheets (14) in 2021 than in any other calendar year in their entire history.

  • England 's 10-0 victory over San Marino this evening is their biggest ever win in a competitive away match in their history. 

  • England have qualified for their seventh consecutive World Cup, their longest ever run of reaching successive World Cup tournaments. 

  • This is the most goals England have ever scored in a World Cup/European Championship qualifying campaign.

  • England scored six goals in the first half of a game for the first time since November 1946 vs Netherlands (finished 8-2).

  • Harry Kane has scored 13 goals for England in 2021, the most any player has netted for the Three Lions in a single calendar year.

  • Emile Smith Rowe is the first player to score on his first start for England while playing his club football at Arsenal since Paul Merson vs Czechoslovakia in March 1992.

  • Emile Smith Rowe is England's 18th different goalscorer in 2021, the most different scorers the Three Lions have ever had in a single calendar year. 

  • Following debuts for Aaron Ramsdale and Conor Gallagher this evening, Gareth Southgate has handed 50 players their senior England debuts - the first manager to do so for the Three Lions since Bobby Robson (64).

  • Jude Bellingham (18 years and 139d) is the second youngest ever player to reach 10 caps for the Three Lions after Wayne Rooney (18 years and 117 days).

  • Jude Bellingham is just the second player in England 's history to win each of his first 10 caps after Theo Walcott. The former Arsenal star won each of his first 14 appearances for the Three Lions.