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Live Commentary: England 5-0 San Marino - as it happened

Sports Mole brings you live text commentary of England's World Cup qualifying match against San Marino at Wembley.

Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the World Cup qualifier between England and San Marino.

Roy Hodgson's men are expected to comfortably overcome the challenge of the visitors at Wembley and the home crowd will be hoping to see an entertaining display.

San Marino are bottom of the FIFA rankings and manager Giampaolo Mazza has admitted that it will be damage limitation for the minnows tonight.

The match is due to begin at 8.00pm.


FTA lot of people have questioned whether San Marino should be allowed into World Cup qualifying and on this evidence, you can understand that argument. No ambition from the minnows but the 85,000 England fans will be heading home happy.

FTFull-time: San Marino are put out of their misery by the referee. It's what we expected really and Hodgson will be pleased with the comfortable victory.

92 minsOne last effort from England as Cahill attempts a half volley from 30 yards but that's no trouble for Simoncini.

89 minsEngland are close to a sixth when Welbeck collects the ball in a pocket of space inside the box and picks out Cleverley but his strike is well blocked by Vitaioli

88 minsBaines has been good tonight, hasn't stopped running down the left wing. He begins another attack but San Marino are hanging on for 5-0.

87 minsVitaioli goes down with what looks like cramp. I think Simoncini was just time wasting with the ball in his hands.

85 minsEngland look finished for the night but more goals before the final whistle wouldn't be surprise. Some of the crowd have started to make their way out.

82 minsShelvey goes searching for a debut goal with a smart turn on the edge of the area but the shot is straight at Simoncini.

81 minsSan Marino look very tired now but England continue to press for more goals.

80 minsRinaldi is replaced by San Marino's record goalscorer, Andy Selva. He's scored eight goals.

77 minsGoal! England 5-0 San Marino (Oxlade-Chamberlain) England look for an opening inside a crowded area but the ball falls to Oxlade-Chamberlain and he decides to curl the ball into the top corner with superb style. It's his first senior international goal.

75 minsSan Marino make a substitute too, with Coppini being replaced by 21-year-old debutant Buscarini

74 minsRooney's night is over as he is replaced by Andy Carroll and Joe Hart (yes, he is playing), is the new captain.

72 minsGoal! England 4-0 San Marino (Welbeck) Welbeck follows Rooney's lead to add his second of the game by turning the ball in at the near post following good play by Cleverley. We're beginning to see the score we expected.

70 minsGoal! England 3-0 San Marino (Rooney) Please, no applause! A loose ball drops to Rooney on the edge of the box and he does well to steer his shot past Simoncini. Rooney is now the fifth highest goalscorer in England's history.

69 minsSan Marino seem to always get a block in when it's required. I can't see this game ending 2-0.

67 minsIt's a debut for Jonjo Shelvey as the Liverpool midfielder comes on to replace Michael Carrick.

67 minsChance for San Marino! Rinaldi breaks free of the England defence but panics in front of goal and puts his effort wide.

66 minsRinaldi is shown a yellow card for a foul on Cahill. England are preparing their first substitution, with Jonjo Shelvey getting ready.

64 minsBaines nearly lights up the second half in spectacular fashion with a 25 yard free-kick that ends up hitting the side netting. Simoncini would have had no chance had that been on target.

62 minsHodgson beginning to look frustrated again on the bench. The second half has begun in almost exactly the same way as the first.

60 minsCahill looks destined to add a third from close range but he can't reach the ball with a diving header and the referee decides to award a free-kick to San Marino. What for? Not a lot from what I can see.

59 minsThere's a chance for Cleverley when Baines pulls the ball back for the midfielder but he doesn't make good contact with a half volley from 12 yards.

57 minsBaines picks out Lennon with a deep cross but he looks surprised by the ball and chests it to a San Marino defender.

55 minsSan Marino aren;t really winning many fans with their approach. Ten of their players inside their own box with the ball 25 yards from goal.

53 minsEngland show why they are the better side at Wembley when a superb passing move ends when Oxlade-Chamberlain dummies the ball for Carrick but the midfielder's finish is blocked by Simoncini. Cahill nearly adds a third just seconds later but he scuffs a volley from 6 yards out.

50 minsCahill decides to go more direct with a long ball aimed at Lennon but Simoncini does well to collect the ball.

49 minsEngland are in control already but they struggle to find space inside a crowded area and Walker eventually gives the ball away.

47 minsWalcott has been taken to hospital for a scan on his chest but England have insisted it is a precautionary measure.

46 minsThe players are back out on the pitch and England begin the second half.

HTEngland have completed 463 passes tonight while San Marino have only made 72.

HTEngland looked sloppy for 30 minutes and I'm sure Hodgson will let them know that. The match is won now and it should be time for some entertainment.

HTWe haven't heard anymore about Walcott's early injury. Simoncini is a lucky boy, he should have been shown at least a yellow card for that challenge and could have been given a second for the foul on Welbeck.

HTI think a difficult opening few minutes was probably always on the cards tonight. England did settle and look far more dangerous when they play a simple passing game. Oxlade-Chamberlain and Lennon have too much pace for San Marino's defence.

HTHalf-time: The first half comes to an end and after a frustratting opening period, England have taken control through goals from Rooney and Welbeck. San Marino are already tiring and the signs look ominous for the minnows in the second period.

47 minsOxlade-Chamberlain continues his quest for a goal but a weak effort is easily stopped by Simoncini.

45 minsEngland should have a second penalty. Welbeck warns the referee about Davide Simoncini at a corner and the defender, wo is twins with the goalkeeper, takes a chance again to pull down Welbeck inside the box to prevent him getting on the end of a Baines cross.

42 minsRooney nearly adds a third with a curling effort from the edge of the area but Simoncini does well to tip the ball away for a corner.

41 minsSan Marino could do with half-time now as Lennon and Oxlade-Chamberlain begin another attack that ends with a foul on Simoncini by Rooney.

39 minsGoal! England 2-0 San Marino (Welbeck) Lennon is picked out by Cleverley and the Spurs winger's cross is flicked into the net by Welbeck at the near post. It's a very similar goal to the one he scored against Ukraine in the summer. The visitors looked as though they have folded already.

37 minsSan marino survived for 35 minutes but England should now be looking for more goals before the break.

36 minsGoal! England 1-0 San Marino Rooney steps up from 12 yards and his strike is too good for Simoncini, who should consider himself lucky to still be on the pitch.

34 minsPenalty! Simoncini attempts to close down Welbeck but he is too late and the England striker is brought down.

34 minsI don't understand how England haven't broken the deadlock! Carrick's strike from 25 yards hits the crossbar and Welbeck smashes the rebound against the post.

33 minsBad miss from Rooney! Cleverley curls a perfect delivery towards the back post but the captain heads inches wide of the post.

32 minsBaines continues to provide the threat for England and he wins a corner that Simoncini does well to punch to safety.

31 minsOxlade-Chamberlain has his third effort of the night from long range but it's safely over Simoncini's crossbar. A bit more care needs to be taken by England in possession.

29 minsLennon gets a rare look at the San Marino full-back but he chooses to cross and it's another corner. Cleverley wastes his first chance but Cahill is unlucky to hit a defender with a shot just moments later.

27 minsRooney mistimes a jump to head a Baines cross over the bar. The Wembley crowd need a goal to liven up their Friday evenings.

25 minsEngland come close to an opener when Oxlade-Chamberlain finds space from 20 yards out but his drilled effort is somehow parried by Simoncini.

23 minsAnother corner for England following a long range strike from Walker. San Marino clear and they have survived the first quarter of this match.

22 minsEngland's improvement continues as Rooney finds space following an exchange of passes with Cleverley. The shot is well blocked.

20 minsBetter from England as a good passing move ends with a Walker cross being plucked out of the air by Simoncini.

19 minsNot much noise around Wembley as England continue to lose possession in promising areas of the pitch.

17 minsBaines threatens on the left wing again when a cross is deflected just wide of the near post.

16 minsI'm sorry to say but you can see why San Marino are bottom of the world rankings when they have the ball. No plan and they look more comfortable without it.

15 minsEngland's play looking slightly rushed so far. Short passing moves will surely be too much for San Marino.

13 minsChance for England from a Baines corner but Rooney fails to hit the target with a glancing header.

12 minsA clever pass from Walker looks to have released Cleverley but Simoncini does well to smother the ball.

10 minsEngland back on top but their progress is halted when Walker is penalised for a foul. It's a disappointing end for Walcott as he hobbles off the pitch. Aaron Lennon is his replacement.

8 minsWalcott is on his feet thankfully but he does look to be a bit shocked by that challenge.

6 minsPlenty of concern around Wembley for Walcott. Simoncini looks as though he may have got away with one there. Hodgson is furious with the officials and he looks to have a case.

5 minsWalcott's pace is going to be a problem for San Marino. The Arsenal forward breaks free of the defence and his attempted lob is blocked by Simoncini. It's a poor challenge from the goalkeeper and he makes a lot of contact with Walcott.

3 minsOxlade-Vhamberlain strikes the ball well from outside the area but Simoncini does well to tip it over the crossbar.

2 minsEngland have a corner when Leighton Baines hits the defender with a low cross.

1 minSan Marino are already dropping to the edge of their own box. England look comfortable in possession.

8.02pmHere we go then, San Marino get the game underway.

7.59pmApparently a certain bookmakers are offering bigger odds on San Marino winning tonight than they are on the Loch Ness monster appearing in the next year. What's your money on?

7.56pmThe national anthems are now being played around the ground and we're moments away from kick-off.

7.52pmHodgson tells ITV that he is aiming to entertain the crowd but that the performance must be "professional and disciplined".

7.48pmWalcott looks a good choice for Hodgson tonight. His pace should be too much for the visitors and with England looking to improve their goal difference, he could be amongst the goals tonight.

7.47pmBack to football then. We're around 15 minutes away from kick-off.

7.44pmPointless fact about San Marino: They have no national debt and the country has one of the lowest unemployment rates in Europe.

7.42pmThe last time England played San Marino, in 1994, the minnows took the lead in eight seconds through David Gualiteri following a poor back pass from Stuart Pearce.

7.31pmHowever, San Marino's average defeat on the international stage is 6-0 so I guess they don't enjoy playing against many strikers at all.

7.30pmI thought Andy Carroll may have started tonight. Can't imagine the San Marino defence would have enjoyed playing against that sort of physical presence.

7.28pmHere is the San Marino team: A Simoncini; F Vitaioli, D Simoncini, Della Valle, Brolli; Gasperoni, Cibelli, Coppini, Palazzi, Cervellini; Danilo.

7.27pmGiampaolo Mazza, the manager of San Marino, is a P.E teacher. Could you imagine Hodgson as your teacher?

7.23pmJoleon Lescott, James Milner and Jermain Defoe are all one yellow card away from a suspension so Hodgson has decided to leave the trio out of tonight's clash. Theo Walcott is handed his first England start in nearly a year.

7.21pmCole is stranded on 98 caps for now then but Baines isn't the worst second choice full-back the world has seen.

7.19pmThe big news from the England team is probably Roy Hodgson's decision to select Leighton Baines over Ashley Cole at left-back. The controversy surrounding the Chelsea defender may have been a factor for Hodgson.

7.18pmWe're still waiting for the San Marino team news but I'm sure all of you have an idea of who will be playing for the visitors tonight.

7.11pmEngland: Hart; Walker, Jagielka, Cahill, Baines; Walcott, Cleverley, Carrick, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Rooney, Welbeck

7.10pmHello everyone, before we go any further, here are tonight's teams.
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Netherlands Netherlands32107
Q Senegal flag Senegal32016
3 Ecuador flag Ecuador31114
4 Qatar Qatar30030

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England32107
Q United States USA31205
3 Iran Iran31023
4 Wales flag Wales30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Argentina Argentina32016
Q Poland Poland31114
3 Mexico Mexico31114
4 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia31023

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France32016
Q Australia Australia32016
3 Tunisia Tunisia31114
4 Denmark Denmark30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Japan Japan32016
Q Spain Spain31114
3 Germany Germany31114
4 Costa Rica flag Costa Rica31023

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Morocco Morocco32107
Q Croatia Croatia31205
3 Belgium Belgium31114
4 Canada Canada30030

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Brazil Brazil32016
Q Switzerland Switzerland32016
3 Cameroon flag Cameroon31114
4 Serbia Serbia30121

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Republic of Korea South Korea31114
3 Uruguay flag Uruguay31114
4 Ghana flag Ghana31023


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