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England national football team
European Championship | Qualifiers
Mar 27, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Lithuania national football team

4-0

Rooney (7'), Welbeck (45'), Sterling (58'), Kane (73')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Player Ratings: England 4-0 Lithuania

Sports Mole takes a look at who stood out during England's 4-0 win over Lithuania in their Euro 2016 qualifying clash at Wembley.

England's 100% record since the World Cup continued this evening as they cruised to a 4-0 victory over Lithuania in a Euro 2016 qualifier at Wembley.

Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck gave the hosts a cushion at half time, while Raheem Sterling and debutant Harry Kane both got their first goals for their country after the break to wrap up the points.

Here, Sports Mole looks at who stood out during an entertaining 90 minutes at Wembley.


Wayne Rooney of England celebrates the first goal with his team mates during the EURO 2016 Qualifier match between England and Lithuania at Wembley Stadium on March 27, 2015© Getty Images

ENGLAND

Goal

Joe Hart: Did not have a shot to save all night and was little more than a spectator for long periods. Faultless on the few occasions he was called into action. (7/10)

Defence

Nathaniel Clyne: A nice, uneventful game for a player who is still inexperienced at this level. Passing was a little sloppy at times, but all in all a comfortable showing. (6/10)

Gary Cahill: Easily dealt with Lithuania's lone striker as the visitors spent most of their time in damage limitation mode. (6/10)

Phil Jones: Made one important interception in the first half, but otherwise had very little to do, with most of the action happening at the other end of the field. (6/10)

Leighton Baines: Never refused the invitation to get forward and there were plenty of chances to do so tonight. An attacking full-back of his quality probably should have had a bigger say under such circumstances, though. (6/10)

Midfield

Fabian Delph: Created a golden chance for Rooney inside four minutes and squandered one of his own in the second half as a fine stop denied him a first England goal to cap off an impressive performance. (7/10)

Michael Carrick: Did the same job that he does for Manchester United week in, week out. Kept things ticking over in midfield and maintained possession for the hosts to help them dominate. (7/10)

Jordan Henderson: Created the second goal with a drilled cross/shot that Welbeck flicked home via a defender. Full of his usual energy and was at the forefront of England's intense pressing high up the pitch. (7/10)

Attack

Raheem Sterling: Started on the right of the front three but popped up everywhere. Was tremendous in the second half with his direct running and quick feet causing Lithuania all sorts of problems. Got his first England goal and then did brilliantly to set up Kane for his. (8/10)

Wayne Rooney: Could have had a first-half hat-trick to move level with Sir Bobby Charlton's record, but was denied by the woodwork twice in addition to scoring. Picked up the assist for the second goal on a successful night for the skipper. (8/10)

Danny Welbeck: The pressure was on after he was chosen ahead of Kane, but Welbeck vindicated his selection. Lithuania had no answer for his pace and power as he repeatedly broke into the box and threatened to create or score a goal. He finished the game with an assist and a goal, making him the top scorer in qualifying. (9/10)

Substitutes

Harry Kane: It just gets better and better for the young striker. Scored within two minutes of coming on for his England debut, nodding home Sterling's cross at the back post. What a dream season he is having. (7/10)

Ross Barkley: His arrival was overshadowed by Kane coming on at the same time, but he also did a decent job as England cruised to victory. (6/10)

Theo Walcott: Handed a 15-minute cameo at the end but was barely involved on his return to the international scene. (6/10)


England's striker Wayne Rooney scores his team's first goal during a Euro 2016 Group E qualifying football match between England and Lithuania at Wembley Stadium in north London on March 27, 2015© Getty Images

LITHUANIA

Goal

Giedrius Arlauskis: A mixed bag. Made a fabulous save to deny Delph in the second half but parried the ball into a dangerous area for Rooney to score the first and was caught in no-man's land for the fourth. (5/10)

Defence

Marius Zaliukas: Found things difficult up against a rampant England attack, with Sterling and Welbeck both having the beating of him. Should have done better for the third goal, allowing Sterling to race in front of him. (4/10)

Tadas Kijanskas: Got the final touch to Welbeck's goal as he deflected it into his own net right in front of his own keeper. (4/10)

Georgas Freidgeimas: Up against it from start to finish as England continually poured forward. Not the worst of the Lithuanian defenders, though. (5/10)

Vytautas Andriuskevicius: Could not cope with Welbeck down his flank and his torrid match went from bad to worse when he was stretched off with a serious-looking injury following a collision with Sterling. (4/10)

Midfield

Saulius Mikoliunas: Not involved at all in an attacking sense and rarely gave his full-back enough protection either. (4/10)

Karolis Chvedukas: Like the rest of his teammates, spent the vast majority of his time on the back foot and chasing shadows. Put a good shift in, but could do nothing to stem the tide. (5/10)

Tomas Mikuckis: Tried to break up play in the middle of the park but it was a tough ask tonight. Taken off with 25 minutes remaining. (5/10)

Fedor Chernykh: Was the player charged with getting forward in support of the lone striker, but had very little opportunity to do so and left Matulevicius isolated. (4/10)

Arturas Zulpa: Not much he could do about England's dominance. Like others in midfield, he tried to get behind the ball and was not lacking for effort, but was simply outclassed. (5/10)

Attack

Deivydas Matulevicius: A thankless task for the big striker. Got very little change from Jones and Cahill, with his best chance quickly being snuffed out by the former. (5/10)

Substitutes

Simonas Stankevicius: Leicester City man came on for the final 25 minutes but could not change the course of the match. (5/10)

Vaidas Slavickas: Replaced the injured Andriuskevicius with seven minutes remaining and had no time to make an impact. (6/10)

Donatas Kazlauskas: Came on for the final two minutes and quickly picked up a caution for kicking the ball away. (6/10)


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Danny Welbeck of England celebrates scoring the second goal during the EURO 2016 Qualifier match between England and Lithuania at Wembley Stadium on March 27, 2015
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