How the England players fared in this evening’s Euro 2016 qualification victory against San Marino.
England continued what looks set to be a serene qualification campaign for Euro 2016 in France with a victory against minnows San Marino that wasn’t quite as emphatic as some had hoped, but comfortable for Roy Hodgson’s men nonetheless.
SEE MORE:
Welbeck goal video
Rooney goal video
Jagielka goal video
Here is how we rated the Three Lions in their 5-0 success:
GK) Joe Hart – 6 – In all honestly, Hart only touched the ball four or five times against an incredibly negative San Marino side. Didn’t have a save to make.
RB) Calum Chambers – 5 – Rating players in a game like this is a little different as defensive is essentially not required. Chambers did nothing wrong at the back, as expected, but his contribution going forward was very poor indeed.
CB) Phil Jagielka – 7 – As with Hart, his services were really needed, but gains an extra mark for heading in the opening goal.
CB Gary Cahill – 6 – Other than being a threat from set pieces, there was very little for Cahill to offer.
LB Kieran Gibbs – 6 – Better going forward than Chambers on the opposite side but perhaps didn’t contribute as much as he could’ve done against such weak opposition.
DCM James Milner – 6 – Played at the base of the diamond in an unfamiliar position, Milner did okay, but was perhaps not cutting enough on the ball.
CM Jordan Henderson – 5 – Was never really at the races in the first half and didn’t get into the game – no surprise when he was hauled off.
CM Jack Wilshere – 7 – Was given the man-of-the-match award by ITV and certainly improved in the second half after a quiet first period.
ACM Raheem Sterling 6 – His pace and trickery should’ve caused the San Marinese far more issues than it did – surprisingly quiet.
SC Danny Welbeck 7 – Stretched the defence with pace and deserved his goal, now a vital member of the England team.
SC Wayne Rooney 4 – The captain had a night to forget despite winning and scoring a penalty, missing three or four glorious chances and generally hindering England’s attacking play.
SUB Adam Lallana – 8 – Played really well when he came on at half-time, found space far more easily than his teammate and caused trouble for San Marino.
SUB Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 7 – Came off the bench to give England some genuine width and was much more involved than Sterling.
SUB Andros Townsend – 7 – Also played well off the bench once the space had been opened up, scoring England’s fourth goal with a fine strike from range.
MAN Roy Hodgson – 6 – Was always going to be hard to rate a manager on a night like tonight, England were comfortably and qualification now looks all-but assured after Switzerland’s defeat in Maribor.