Summary

  • Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live & online

  • Kane punishes Bulgaria mix-up for opener & adds penalty

  • Sterling finishes off Kane cross for third, Kane hat-trick with second penalty

  • England make it three wins from three in Group A & go back to top

  1. 'We are not taking Kosovo lightly'published at 19:24 British Summer Time 7 September 2019

    England 4-0 Bulgaria

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    Harry Kane speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "It was nice to get the hat-trick today. I thought everybody was great today and I was there to put them away.

    "I thought the second-half performance was really good. When it was 1-0 the counter attack was alive for them.

    "We’ve still got work to do and we are not taking Kosovo lightly on Tuesday. Hopefully we can get the win and it will be a good six points from the two games."

  2. 'Sterling a real threat'published at 19:21 British Summer Time 7 September 2019

    England 4-0 Bulgaria

    England

    More from Southgate, on Harry Kane's penalties: "We watch him do it every day. He took a lot of penalties yesterday and we were very confident sat on the bench watching him today. He is a brilliant example for any youngster, you can see how he composes himself and the goalkeeper doesn't know where he will go."

    On Raheem Sterling's contribution: "He will be disappointed he hasn't got a hat-trick. I thought he carried the threat from the first whistle - he was a real threat all day."

  3. Postpublished at 19:18 British Summer Time 7 September 2019

    England 4-0 Bulgaria

    Chris Sutton
    Premier League winner with Blackburn on BBC Radio 5 live

    I am surprised James Maddison did not start today. I think he's the best English midfield player.

    But how can you argue with Gareth Southgate's selection when they win so easily?

  4. 'Generally pleased'published at 19:15 British Summer Time 7 September 2019

    England 4-0 Bulgaria

    England

    England manager Gareth Southgate speaking to ITV about the performance: "I think it improved as the game went on. We didn't need to over-complicate things. We looked dangerous, at times we took a few too many touches. Their formation caused us problems out of possession as well."

    On Bulgaria's chances: "In a game like this you have got to make sure the concentration is right. I always felt we had enough firepower to win the game. I'm not sure it's complacency - every team will have some moments, you just have to make sure you see the runs, but I'm generally pleased - some of our attacking play at times was really exciting."

  5. Stat attackpublished at 19:11 British Summer Time 7 September 2019

    England 4-0 Bulgaria

    • England have avoided defeat in each of their last 42 Euro/World Cup qualifying matches (W33 D9 L0), since losing 1-0 to Ukraine in October 2009.
    • Harry Kane became the first player to score 25+ goals in his first 40 appearances for the England men’s team since Gary Lineker (27 goals). It was his 13th hat-trick for club and country (11 for Spurs, 2 for England).
    • Kane has been directly involved in 25 goals in 30 competitive appearances for England (20 goals, 5 assists).
    • Kieran Tripper (Atletico Madrid) became the first player representing a Spanish team at club level to play for the England men’s team since David Beckham (Real Madrid) in June 2007.
  6. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 19:09 British Summer Time 7 September 2019

    #bbcfootball or text 81111 (UK only)

    Johnny Magrinho: Maddison not starting is a joke, as well as Sancho coming off the bench at 70 minutes. Why Southgate felt the need to start with such a defence-minded midfield is beyond me. Same old safety before creativity being expressed by the England manager. Disappointing.

  7. 'We have such explosive, skillful players'published at 19:06 British Summer Time 7 September 2019

    England 4-0 Bulgaria

    England

    England striker Harry Kane speaking to ITV: "First half we got caught on the counter a couple if times, we said at half time we needed to try and come out and get an early goal and that's what we've done. It's a good result we hope to take into Tuesday."

    On his penalty record: "It's just hard work and practice, we do a lot during week and the day before a game we do quite a bit. I always go with my feeling - it could be 10, it could be 50, it depends how I feel on the day. We have such explosive, skillful players so we're always going to get penalties."

    On a goal-scoring competition with Raheem Sterling: "It's great for him that he's taken his club form into international form, he's an amazing player. I managed to repay the favour (having set up Sterling's goal). We enjoy playing together, we all do."

    On facing Kosovo on Tuesday: "We'll have to press better. It will be difficult, we're feeling good, hopefully we can get ahead like today and get another result."

  8. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 19:02 British Summer Time 7 September 2019

    #bbcfootball or text 81111 (UK only)

    Chris Waddle has clearly forgotten Euro 2008 qualifying. No team should be automatically qualify.

    George

  9. 'Places up for grabs'published at 18:59 British Summer Time 7 September 2019

    England 4-0 Bulgaria

    Chris Waddle
    Ex-England winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

    We haven't seen a team in this group who has been near England. They are far, far too good for this group. It's all about how they do at the European Championships next year.

    Pickford, Maguire, Henderson, Sterling and Kane are the definite starters for me. The rest of places are still up for grabs heading into the Euros.

  10. Rate the playerspublished at 18:56 British Summer Time 7 September 2019

    England 4-0 Bulgaria

    Player rayerImage source, BBC Sport

    Who stood out?

    Head over here to rate the players.

  11. 'Too easy for England'published at 18:55 British Summer Time 7 September 2019

    England 4-0 Bulgaria

    Chris Sutton
    Premier League winner with Blackburn on BBC Radio 5 live

    Too easy for England, it was a complete mismatch. It was a stroll, Bulgaria are an ageing team.

  12. 'Comfortable win'published at 18:52 British Summer Time 7 September 2019

    England 4-0 Bulgaria

    Chris Waddle
    Ex-England winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

    England dominated the ball and the play. We always knew England were going to win. A comfortable win - well done England.

  13. FULL-TIMEpublished at 18:48 British Summer Time 7 September 2019

    England 4-0 Bulgaria

    All over.

    Another stroll for England, they return to the top of Group A with three wins from three.

    EnglandImage source, Reuters
  14. YELLOW CARDpublished at 90+2 mins

    England 4-0 Bulgaria

    Why do that??

    Danny Rose goes lunging in on Anton Nedyalkov late in injury-time and is booked.

    That could come back to haunt him later in the campaign.

  15. INJURY TIMEpublished at 90 mins

    England 4-0 Bulgaria

    Oh, two added on.

  16. Postpublished at 18:46 British Summer Time 7 September 2019

    England 4-0 Bulgaria

    Chris Sutton
    Premier League winner with Blackburn on BBC Radio 5 live

    This Bulgaria team are like an old lame donkey that needs putting out to pasture.

  17. Postpublished at 89 mins

    England 4-0 Bulgaria

    Into the final minute.

    No added time please, Signore Guida.

  18. 'England should qualify automatically'published at 18:44 British Summer Time 7 September 2019

    England 4-0 Bulgaria

    Chris Waddle
    Ex-England winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

    There is nobody close to England in this group. Teams like France and England should qualify automatically for the Euros.

  19. GOOD SAVE!published at 88 mins

    England 4-0 Bulgaria

    Delightful football from England.

    Marcus Rashford plays a one-two with Ross Barkley to find himself in on goal, but dinks his effort straight at goalkeeper Plamen Iliev.

    Got to score those, not good enough.

    RashfordImage source, Getty Images