Summary

  • England ease past San Marino in their first qualifier for 2022 Fifa World Cup

  • Ward-Prowse scores his first international goal

  • Calvert-Lewin scores twice - one goal in either half

  • Sterling - captain for the night - gets a goal before being taken off at half-time

  • Watkins comes off bench to grab debut goal

  • Poland, Hungary, Albania & Andorra also in Group 1

  • England also play Albania & Poland during this international window

  1. 'A game that's not needed'published at 19:10 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2021

    England v San Marino (19:45 GMT)

    Rob Green
    Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

    It's going to be an England win. I find it a bit frustrating. San Marino as a nation have won one game in their history so they have not really done anything to qualify to be here.

    In this current format with all the games we have got, it is one that is not needed.

  2. England's attacking options...published at 19:09 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2021

    England v San Marino (19:45 GMT)

    Gareth Southgate appears to have a real selection headache for Euro 2020.

    England boast a wealth of attacking options for the tournament this summer and while Harry Kane looks set to be the main man, around him there is a mix of seasoned performers and exciting youngsters to choose from.

    We asked you to rank the options - and former Manchester City and England defender Micah Richards and ex-Chelsea striker Chris Sutton also debated the possibilities on BBC Radio 5 live's Monday Night Club.

    See the results here.

    .Image source, BBC Sport
  3. On the radio!published at 19:07 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2021

    England v San Marino (19:45 GMT)

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    We've got live commentary and build up on BBC Radio 5 Live. Just click the icon at the top of this page to listen.

  4. Life after Hamrenpublished at 19:05 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2021

    Germany v Iceland (19:45 GMT)

    Germany are preparing for life after current coach Joachim Low leaves, but Iceland are a bit further down the line.

    Former international player Arnar Vidarsson is taking charge of his first game tonight, after succeeding Erik Hamren as boss. Just a simple start in Germany. No biggie.

    Iceland are aiming to reach just their second World Cup finals, having made their tournament bow in Russia in 2018.

  5. 'I can learn from Kane'published at 19:03 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2021

    England v San Marino (19:45 GMT)

    Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins, who earned his first call-up to the squad and is on the bench tonight, says he hopes he can improve by playing and training with England captain Harry Kane.

    "I spoke to him a couple of times, he's a really nice guy," said Watkins.

    "Asking him how he trains, what he does and get some inside knowledge on how he works... Definitely someone I can learn from and see how he works on a day-to-day basis.

    "I'm just trying to take it all in, the dream would be to make my debut."

    Media caption,

    Kane has got everything - Watkins

  6. Low nearing the endpublished at 19:01 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2021

    Germany v Iceland (19:45 GMT)

    Joachim Low gets his final World Cup qualifying campaign under way this evening when they face Iceland. Low will leave his post as Germany head coach after this summer's European Championship, leaving his successor (whoever that may be?) to finish off getting the four-time champions to the finals in Qatar.

    Low will want to end his 15-year reign on a high, which will mean a pretty stark improvement on their recent 6-0 hammering at the hands of Spain - the first time the Germans have lost by a six-goal margin in 89 years. Ouch.

  7. 'Opportunity for other players'published at 19:00 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2021

    England v San Marino (19:45 GMT)

    Rob Green
    Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

    You look at the motivation of players in the team because as a match it is a foregone conclusion. Harry Kane is proud of his numbers and would be thinking he wanted to be in.

    It's a chance for Dominic Calvert-Lewin. He's got two in five, if he got a hat-trick tonight it would not be a bad return. The big question was if Gareth Southgate was going to play three central defenders because one of the criticisms is that there are too many players behind the ball and there is not enough creativity.

    It is an opportunity to have a look at people going forward.

  8. 'I had sweaty palms!'published at 18:59 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2021

    England v San Marino (19:45 GMT)

    West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone said he had "sweaty palms" when he joined up with the England squad at St George's Park.

    The 27-year-old has represented England at youth levels but his last games were for the under-20s in 2013.

    "I was so excited, even though I knew a lot of the lads and a lot of the staff," he said.

    "I've not been to St George's for a few years in an England squad. This is the senior team, it is the biggest one."

    .Image source, Getty Images
  9. A new-look Englandpublished at 18:57 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2021

    England v San Marino (19:45 GMT)

    The 170 caps between the England starting XI is the fewest for a match at Wembley since February 1983 against Wales in a Home Nations match (145).

  10. Lingard on Southgate's advicepublished at 18:55 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2021

    England v San Marino (19:45 GMT)

    Jesse Lingard says listening to Gareth Southgate's advice has helped him regain his place in the England squad.

    Southgate suggested the 28-year-old stay in England as he sought a loan move after failing to get much game-time at Manchester United this season.

    Lingard had offers from abroad but joined West Ham and has thrived since.

    "That was an incentive, as if to say, 'if you stay and do well then you'll get your call up'," Lingard said.

    .Image source, Getty Images
  11. Spain looking strongpublished at 18:53 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2021

    Spain v Greece (19:45 GMT)

    How do you top a 6-0 win over Germany? Well, Spain won't be doing that tonight, no matter how many they put past Greece (with all due respect).

    Luis Enrique's side have not had the best time of it in World Cups since winning the thing in 2010, but they are on a nine-game winning run at home, during which they've conceded just once.

    Greece are aiming to reach the World Cup finals in 2022 after having failed to make it for the last one. That 2004 Euros win feels a long, long time ago now.

  12. Southgate 'mindful' of burning outpublished at 18:51 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2021

    England v San Marino (19:45 GMT)

    England captain Harry Kane will be keen to add to his 32 international goals as World Cup qualifying begins.

    But with England set to face Albania and Poland in the next six days following tonight's game, Gareth Southgate said they will manage his game time.

    .Image source, Getty Images

    "It is brilliant we have got a captain who wants to play every minute of every game," he added.

    "But we have to be mindful he had extra time last Thursday [in the Europa League] and then another high-intensity game on Sunday.

    "We have that situation with a lot of the players really, so we have to manage the fixtures correctly, and have done that through training this week."

  13. An improving side?published at 18:49 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2021

    England v San Marino (19:45 GMT)

    San Marino may be the lowest-ranked team in the world - behind the likes of Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands and the US Virgin Islands.

    But they are a team on the up!

    They have drawn two of their last three games, against Liechtenstein and Gibraltar.

    They were also down to 10 men for over 40 minutes in that draw with Gibraltar back in November.

  14. Can young stars deliver?published at 18:47 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2021

    England's Eddie Nketiah, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Curtis Jones and Emile Smith Rowe have already proved themselves in the FA Cup, but can they turn it on for England as they look to bounce back at the European Under-21 Championship?

    Media caption,

    European Under-21 Championship: England's next generation of stars

  15. Premier League interest abroadpublished at 18:45 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2021

    Germany are still able to name a strong side for the game against Iceland despite that positive coronavirus result for Jonas Hofmann.

    This includes Chelsea pair Antonio Rudiger and Kai Havertz, with Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan in midfield.

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    Three Man City players start Spain's game against Greece. Eric Garcia is at centre-back, with Rodri in midfield and Ferran Torres on the right of an attacking three spear-headed by Alvaro Morata.

    There were some doubts about Sergio Ramos' fitness for Spain, but he is fit to start.

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  16. Elsewhere tonight...published at 18:44 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2021

    There's a full international schedule tonight so plenty going on elsewhere.

    Northern Ireland are in Parma to take on Italy and Scotland are at home to Albania. Follow that game HERE.

    Germany are hosting Iceland following the news midfielder Jonas Hofmann has tested positive for coronavirus.

    Spain are also at home to Greece and Poland travel to Hungary in more World Cup qualifiers.

    The under-21 European Championship also continues tonight with France, Denmark, Portugal and Croatia's youth all playing.

  17. Young Lions suffer defeatpublished at 18:42 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2021

    FT: England U21 0-1 Switzerland

    England suffered a surprise defeat by Switzerland in the opening game of their European Under-21 Championship campaign.

    Dan Ndoye's looping effort 13 minutes from the end proved decisive for the Swiss on their first appearance at the finals for a decade.

    While Aidy Boothroyd's side dominated possession they struggled to break down resolute opponents.

    Thursday's other Group D fixture sees Portugal face Croatia at 20:00 GMT.

    Read the match report here.

    .Image source, Getty Images
  18. Postpublished at 18:41 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2021

    England v San Marino (19:45 GMT)

    Manchester City's Raheem Sterling will captain England tonight.

  19. Team newspublished at 18:39 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2021

    England v San Marino (19:45 GMT)

    England boss Gareth Southgate has well and truly shuffled his pack. Mason Mount is the only survivor from the side that started the Nations League win over Iceland in November.

    England XI: Pope, James, Stones, Coady, Chilwell, Ward-Prowse, Lingard, Phillips, Mount, Calvert-Lewin, Sterling

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    San Marino make two changes to the side that drew 0-0 against Gibraltar in the Nations League in November. Andrea Grandoni and Manuel Battistini come in for Davide Simoncini and Fabio Tomassini.

    San Marino XI: Benedettini, Palazzi, Brolli, Rossi, Golinucci, Berardi, Battistini, Grandoni, Nanni, Hirsch, Lunadei

  20. How do you improve the world's worst national team?published at 18:36 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2021

    England v San Marino (19:45 GMT)

    There have been few moments of pride in San Marino's football history.

    It is, admittedly, a relatively short history.

    Although its football federation (FSGC) was founded in 1931, San Marino only received affiliation to Fifa and Uefa in 1988 and its national team's first official game took place in November 1990.

    With a population of around 30,000, the microstate on the hills above the Italian Riviera has a tiny pool of potential players...

    Read more here.

    .Image source, Getty Images