Manchester United teammates Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck got two goals each as a young England side beat San Marino 5-0 at Wembley.
Why many in the media were expecting England to put up a cricket score, and then criticized them for scoring only five, Roy Hodgson has to take a lot of positives away from England’s performance.
At the Euros, England were soundly criticized for not being able to keep control of the ball. Of always giving it away after two or three passes. At times against San Marino England strung together 20 or more passes in a row time after time. Yes, the quality of the opposition was poor, but England did a really good job of recycling the ball across the pitch.
Without the likes of Terry, Cole, Lampard and Gerrard this was an extremely young England side that played last night. It looked more like a side that will be in Brazil in four years with Hart in goal. When Carrck was replaced by Jonjo Shelvey in the 66th minute, England had a midfield of Shelvey, Cleverely, Lennon and Oxlade-Chamberlain with Rooney and Welbeck up-front. At 26, Rooney is the old man in that group.
Speaking of Shelvey, how was he able to play in a World Cup qualifier for the England, but was suspended for U21’s European playoff game?
Rooney’s two goals Rooney took his England tally to 31, as he passed Tom Finney, Nat Lofthouse and Alan Shearer to become the ifth highest goal-scorer in England’s history.
England now move on to a tricky test away to Poland on Tuesday, where it will be interesting to see how many of the kids Roy Hodgson sticks with in what will probably be England’s most difficult away game in qualifying.