MX23RW : Tuesday, March 19 10:59:15| >> :600:157270:157270:
[monks data]
Bulgaria national football team
Euro Champ Qualifying | Group Stage
Oct 14, 2019 at 7.45pm UK
 
England national football team

0-6

FT(HT: 0-4)
Rashford (7'), Barkley (20', 32'), Sterling (45', 69'), Kane (85')

Slick England put six past Bulgaria in Sofia

England return to winning ways in their Euro 2020 qualification group with a 6-0 victory away to Bulgaria.

England have taken a huge step towards qualifying for Euro 2020 courtesy of a 6-0 win over Bulgaria in Monday night's Group A clash in Sofia.

The Three Lions entered the match off the back of a 2-1 loss to the Czech Republic on Friday, but Gareth Southgate's side responded in impressive fashion to collect three important points, meaning that they are now just one victory away from guaranteeing their spot in next summer's tournament.

Events on the field were largely overshadowed by matters off it, though, with racist chanting throughout the 90 minutes threatening the abandonment of the qualification clash.

England's Marcus Rashford scores against Bulgaria in their Euro 2020 qualifier on October 14, 2019© Reuters

After a slow start to proceedings, England took the lead in the seventh minute, and it was a special goal from Marcus Rashford, who worked his way into the Bulgarian box before picking out the back of the net with a stunning effort.

The attacker has struggled to carry the goalscoring burden for Manchester United this season but showed plenty of confidence to make the breakthrough in Sofia after being found by Ross Barkley.

Bulgaria almost responded four minutes later when Ivelin Popov fired a low strike towards the bottom corner, only for England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to make a smart save down to his left.

The Three Lions doubled their lead in the 20th minute, though, when a brilliant team move ended with Raheem Sterling driving a low cross into Barkley, who could not pass up the chance to score from close range.

Southgate's side never got to grips with the Czech Republic on Friday night, but the 2018 World Cup semi-finalists were extremely comfortable in Sofia as they continued to dominate the possession.

Ross Barkley celebrates scoring for England in their Euro 2020 qualifier against Bulgaria on October 14, 2019© Reuters

There was a stoppage just before the 30-minute mark with Harry Kane coming together with the referee amid suggestions of chanting towards Sterling and Tyrone Mings, which led to an announcement inside the stadium as part of UEFA's three-step protocol for dealing with racism at matches.

Play resumed moments later, and the visitors scored their third of the night in the 32nd minute when Barkley headed a brilliant Kane cross into the back of the net from close range.

Petar Zanev struck over Pickford's crossbar late in the first period as Bulgaria looked for a route back into the match, before Rashford missed the target with a powerful attempt down the other end.

Six minutes of additional time were signalled at the end of the first period, with step two of UEFA's protocol brought into action as there were more complaints of racist chanting inside the stadium.

The first half ultimately ended with England leading 4-0 as Sterling tapped a low Kane cross into the back of the net to cap off another fine move, although matters off the field had overshadowed what was a very positive 45 minutes of football from Southgate's side.

England's Harry Kane speaks to the referee during their Euro 2020 qualifier against Bulgaria on October 14, 2019© Reuters

Bulgaria goalkeeper Iliev Ivanov had to keep out a powerful strike from Kane early in the second half as England, who were the first team on the field after the break, looked to add a fifth.

Bozhidar Kraev then missed the England goal from distance before Sterling fired just wide of the post down the other end during an open period of the Euro 2020 qualification clash.

Sterling had another half-chance just before the hour after meeting a cross from Kieran Trippier, but the home side's goalkeeper was on hand to make a smart save as the score remained 4-0 in Sofia.

The same two players went head to head once again moments later and again it was a brilliant save from Ivanov as Bulgaria managed to keep the score down despite the immense pressure.

Zanev then tested the reactions of Pickford with a rasping effort from distance, before Ivanov kept out a strike from Kane after the Tottenham Hotspur forward had been found by Rashford.

England had their fifth in the 69th minute, though, when Sterling, having been released by Kane, expertly found the back of the net in a one-on-one situation.

England players celebrate Marcus Rashford's goal against Bulgaria in their Euro 2020 qualifier on October 14, 2019© Reuters

Jadon Sancho, Mason Mount and Callum Wilson all came off the bench in the period that followed, while Bulgaria also used all three of their substitutes as the pace of the match dropped.

Kane had been denied by the post in the 83rd minute, but the Three Lions captain made it six in the final exchanges when he netted after more lacklustre defending from the hosts.

As it transpired, the game was allowed to finish when at one point it looked likely to be abandoned, and while the result was excellent for England, it was another hugely unsettling evening due to events off the pitch.

Next up for Southgate's side is a home game against Montenegro on November 14 - where a win would guarantee their spot at Euro 2020 regardless of results elsewhere - while Bulgaria's search for their first victory in 12 months will continue at home to the Czech Republic, who remain second in the section.

BULGARIA (4-3-3): Iliev; Pashov, Hadzhiev, Terziev, Zanev; Kostadinov, Sarmov (Kraev 46'), Despodov; Wanderson (Malinov 76'), Isa (G Ivanov 68'), Popov

ENGLAND (4-3-3): Pickford; Trippier, Maguire, Mings, Chilwell; Barkley (Mount 73'), Winks, Henderson; Rashford (Wilson 76'), Kane, Sterling (Sancho 73')

ID:375012: cacheID:375012:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:10049:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
England players celebrate Harry Kane's goal against Czech Republic in their Euro 2020 qualifier on October 11, 2019
Read Next:
How England could line up against Bulgaria
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain870121
Q Scotland flag Scotland852117
3 Norway Norway832311
4 Georgia Georgia82248
5 Cyprus Cyprus80080

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France871022
Q Netherlands Netherlands860218
3 Greece Greece841313
4 Ireland Rep. Ireland82066
5 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar80080

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England862020
Q Italy Italy842214
3 Ukraine Ukraine842214
4 Macedonia N. Macedonia82248
5 Malta flag Malta80080

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Turkey Turkey852117
Q Croatia Croatia851216
3 Wales flag Wales833212
4 Armenia Armenia82248
5 Latvia Latvia81073

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Albania national flag Albania843115
Q Czech Republic Czech Republic843115
3 Poland Poland832311
4 Republic of Moldova Moldova824210
5 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands80262

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Belgium Belgium862020
Q Austria Austria861119
3 Sweden Sweden831410
4 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan82157
5 Estonia Estonia80171

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Hungary Hungary853018
Q Serbia Serbia842214
3 Montenegro Montenegro832311
4 Lithuania Lithuania81346
5 Bulgaria Bulgaria80444

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Denmark Denmark1071222
Q Slovenia Slovenia1071222
3 Finland Finland1060418
4 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan1060418
5 Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland103079
6 San Marino flag San Marino1000100

Group I

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania1064022
Q Switzerland Switzerland1045117
3 Israel Israel1043315
4 Belarus Belarus1033412
5 Kosovo flag Kosovo1025311
6 Andorra flag Andorra100282

Group J

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal10100030
Q Slovakia Slovakia1071222
3 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg1052317
4 Iceland Iceland1031610
5 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina103079
6 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein1000100

Subscribe to our newsletter


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!