Summary

  • Watkins scores on first England start, Sterling adds second, Mings third

  • Former Tottenham defender Aurier sent off with England winning 1-0

  • England make 10 changes - Mitchell also makes first start

  • Zaha not included in Ivory Coast squad

  1. Byepublished at 22:50 British Summer Time 29 March 2022

    That's all from me.

    Keep an eye on the website for more international football reaction but we'll be back with the Premier League's return on the weekend.

    See you then!

  2. Postpublished at 22:48 British Summer Time 29 March 2022

    An eventful night in the World Cup qualifiers then. Cristiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski and Sadio Mane are all going to Qatar.

    Mohamed Salah and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are not there - neither are European champions Italy following their defeat to North Macedonia the other day.

  3. Postpublished at 22:47 British Summer Time 29 March 2022

    FT: England 3-0 Ivory Coast

    Strong words from Gareth Southgate in support of Manchester United centre-back Harry Maguire.

    Read more on that here.

    .Image source, Getty Images
  4. How the other home nations got onpublished at 22:43 British Summer Time 29 March 2022

    Scotland extended their unbeaten run to eight games despite spurning a two-goal lead in a late friendly collapse in Austria.

    Wayne Hennessey celebrated 100 caps for Wales as their friendly with the Czech Republic ended in a draw in Cardiff.

    Northern Ireland fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat at home to Hungary in a largely low-key friendly international in Belfast.

  5. Elsewhere tonight...published at 22:38 British Summer Time 29 March 2022

    Loads to check out on the website from tonight.

    Phil McNulty's report from Wembley.

    Sadio Mane sent Senegal to the World Cup with the winning penalty in a shootout victory over Egypt after Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah missed his effort.

    Bruno Fernandes was set up by Cristiano Ronaldo and Diogo Jota to score twice as Portugal booked their place in Qatar.

    Robert Lewandowski scores to help Poland qualify, while Christian Eriksen also netted on his return to Copenhagen since suffering a cardiac arrest. The Netherlands ended Germany's winning run too.

  6. 'In a group who can win it'published at 22:35 British Summer Time 29 March 2022

    FT: England 3-0 Ivory Coast

    England

    Gareth Southgate on England's hopes at the World Cup: "I think we're one in a group of teams who can win. We need to be faultless to do that but it's an exciting group of players to work with.

    "We have to keep pushing because even today at 2-0 we gave a poor foul away and a free-kick which they should score from. You can't afford those moments of a lack of concentration.

    "We need to keep pushing but generally across the week I have been really pleased with the approach."

  7. 'The reception for Maguire was a joke'published at 22:31 British Summer Time 29 March 2022

    FT: England 3-0 Ivory Coast

    England

    Gareth Southgate on Harry Maguire receiving boos before kick-off from the crowd: "I thought the reception was a joke, an absolute joke. The way he has performed for us has been absolutely phenomenal. I don't get it. We're either all in this together or we're not.

    "He's in an England shirt and not only should you support a player in an England shirt regardless, but when you've played at the level he has for us and put the performances in he has, it should be total commitment behind him. I don't get it at all.

    "His performance was pretty faultless really. He stepped out from the back really well for his first goal, was involved in the second one too. The team are totally united. We recognise everyone has difficult moments but he's a top player and he will come through it.

    "They are real England fans and some are influenced by whatever - social media or players that played previously who are influencing opinion. The club situation is obviously very difficult but he's in an England shirt. I remember decades ago a few players being booed in an England shirt and it's never been acceptable to me. Fans should always get behind their team."

  8. 'Brilliant for Watkins to get his goal'published at 22:29 British Summer Time 29 March 2022

    FT: England 3-0 Ivory Coast

    England

    More from Gareth Southgate: "We have good players who work hard for the team. Jack Grealish was chasing back and sliding in to block shots. The demands at his club means he has to do both sides of the game. Without a doubt we have seen that change. He is a lot fitter now too.

    "It was brilliant for Ollie Watkins to get his goal. It was good movement in the box. What you know with Ollie is that he is going to press people and work defenders. It gives us a different profile to Harry Kane. He will be pleased on his week's work."

  9. 'I don't want us to hype our young players'published at 22:25 British Summer Time 29 March 2022

    FT: England 3-0 Ivory Coast

    England

    England manager Gareth Southgate speaking to Sky Sports: "I thought the mentality at the start was really good. Of course the red card changes the game which was a shame in terms of the test we wanted.

    "I thought Jack Grealish and Raheem Sterling were very bright on the wings. They weren't happy to be coming off! But they have so much football coming up.

    "Jude Bellingham had a really good game. I was very pleased to see him. Tyrick Mitchell has dipped his toes into international football and done really well."

    On Jude Bellingham's performance: "There's a long way to go. We're good at building our players up. We have lots of talent. Jude seems to have the mentality to want to keep getting better. We're really pleased with what he does but there's still a long way to go.

    "There's great competition for places so when we're developing young players we need to do it really carefully. We build players up in our country so quickly. I'm not saying he isn't an exciting talent - because he is - he is a great kid to work with. But we shouldn't put a load of hype around them. The rewards in our country and the spotlight is different.

    "I'm being ultra cautious. I don't think it will diminish his desire but I also don't want to create a hype around our young players."

  10. 'I wore it with great pride'published at 22:19 British Summer Time 29 March 2022

    FT: England 3-0 Ivory Coast

    England

    Raheem Sterling speaking to Sky Sports: "A good night, it is always an honour to get given the opportunity to wear the captain's armband, I wore it with great pride and it was a great team eprformance in the end."

    On his dead leg: "It was as dead leg in the first minute of the game, one of those annoying ones that won't go away and got stiffer an stiffer as the game goes on."

    On being captain: "It is a great privilege and never in my wildest imagination as a young player coming thorugh did I think I would captain England one day, it comes with maturity the manager sees in you, the passion and love I have for the country.

    "I always have this thing where I remember me coming through as a young player and it is nice when senior players put their arm around you, it is a new environment and all we can do is make sure the new ones feel as comfortable as possible.

    "We continue to try to build, one game at a time, wait for the summer and put some good performances in."

  11. Postpublished at 22:16 British Summer Time 29 March 2022

    FT: England 3-0 Ivory Coast

    A good night for the Villa.

    .Image source, Getty Images
  12. Postpublished at 22:12 British Summer Time 29 March 2022

    "Never in my wildest imagination as a young player coming through would I have thought I'd captain England one day," says Raheem Sterling.

    A goal, an assist and a win at Wembley with the armband. Not a bad night.

    .Image source, Getty Images
  13. 'I wanted Aurier to stay on'published at 22:08 British Summer Time 29 March 2022

    FT: England 3-0 Ivory Coast

    England

    England forward Jack Grealish speaking to Sky Sports: "I thought it was a good performance from us. We knew it would be difficult to start but the red card changed things completely. It was a different type of game to what we're used to playing. It was a good performance from the team and I'm happy with mine too.

    "I wanted [Serge Aurier] to stay on because it's a friendly and you get more from playing against 11. I think it would have been more of a challenge for us. I said to the referee 'come on!'

    "I asked Raheem Sterling if there was any chance he was passing to me before! No, I'm just happy to get goals and assists. They have been difficult to come by at Manchester City but with England I have got quite a few. I want to continue playing well because I'm really enjoying it.

    "Of course, I've spoken to Pep Guardiola. He's shown me every other stat in the world that you would be happy with apart from goals and assists. He's the only person I need to impress but if you're a forward you want to get goals and assists so hopefully in the business end of the season I can get them.

    "It's a brilliant time to be in my shoes. We're in so many competitions still and then at the end of the year we have the World Cup. I need to keep impressing the manager to get into that squad."

  14. Postpublished at 22:06 British Summer Time 29 March 2022

    FT: England 3-0 Ivory Coast

    Southampton

    James Ward-Prowse became the first player to win each of his first 10 England caps while playing for Southampton since Wayne Bridge in 2003, and the fifth overall along with Terry Paine, Mick Channon and Mark Wright.

    .Image source, Getty Images
  15. The best of the statspublished at 22:02 British Summer Time 29 March 2022

    FT: England 3-0 Ivory Coast

    England have won all 12 matches which have featured Jude Bellingham.

    Since his England international debut in November 2012, Raheem Sterling has registered more assists for his country than any other player for the Three Lions (18).

    England remain unbeaten against African nations, losing none of their 20 matches against them (W14 D6) and beating seven of the nine opponents they have faced, failing only against Ghana (D1) and Algeria (D1).

  16. 'Dream to go to World Cup'published at 21:58 British Summer Time 29 March 2022

    FT: England 3-0 Ivory Coast

    England

    Ollie Watkins speaking to Sky Sports: "The job is to help the team to firstly win and then do my bit and try and provide goals and assists and good link-up play, and I thought I did that in spells tonight.

    "A few times a little bit sloppy but that happens, it is an unbelievable feeling to make my first start for England, I was just trying to make the most of every moment out there."

    On his goal: "I cant believe it really. Raz (Sterling) has done unbelievable and it was on a plate for me. I couldnt miss. I felt like I did well tonight."

    On his late call-up: "I wasn't expecting to be in the squad but when I got the call I am always happy to come away with England. You look forward to it and have to prepare as you do at your club.

    "My family and friends are here to watch so what a moment for them and myself. It is every boy's dream to play at a World Cup, where all the superstars play, that's the dream but I have to take each step at a time."

  17. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 21:57 British Summer Time 29 March 2022

    #bbcfootball

    YT: Villa holding it down for England.

    Daz Jones: Well done Villa!!

    .Image source, Getty Images
  18. International round-uppublished at 21:53 British Summer Time 29 March 2022

    In tonight's friendlies, Scotland led 2-0 away to Austria but had to settle for a draw after conceding twice in the final 15 minutes.

    Northern Ireland lost 1-0 at home to Hungary and Wales drew 1-1 at home to Czech Republic. The Republic of Ireland beat Lithuania 1-0.

    In a heavyweight European showdown, Germany's eight-match winning start under Hansi Flick came to an end after a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands in Amsterdam.

    There were heavy wins for Spain - 5-0 against Iceland - while Italy came from behind to win 3-2 away to Turkey. Belgium beat Burkina Faso 3-0.

    They are still playing in France where the hosts lead South Africa 3-0 with about 10 minutes to go, Kylian Mbappe with two goals.

  19. Postpublished at 21:51 British Summer Time 29 March 2022

    FT: England 3-0 Ivory Coast

    Plenty of decent individual performance from England. Who stood out for you?

    Let us know using #bbcfootball

    .Image source, Getty Images
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    .Image source, Getty Images
  20. Young Lions win in Albaniapublished at 21:48 British Summer Time 29 March 2022

    FT: Albania U21 0-3 England U21

    A highly satisfactory night for England all round. Lee Carsley's Young Lions have won 3-0 away to Albania to keep their hopes alive of qualifying for the 2023 European Under-21 Championship.

    Arsenal's Folarin Balogun - who is on loan at Middlesbrough - got two goals while Liverpool's Curtis Jones also scored.

    .Image source, Getty Images