91Èȱ¬

Image source, Getty Images

England require only a point from their final qualifier in San Marino to confirm their place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after thrashing Albania at Wembley.

Have a read of Phil McNulty's report

We are back on Saturday for more qualifying action.

Until then.

Kyle Walker's night could have been ruined had Myrto Uzuni slotted home when presented with a golden opportunity.

In the end the England defender had more touches (108), passes (104) and won the ball back more time (8) than any other player.

• Albania suffered their heaviest defeat in a World Cup qualifier since losing 5-0 to England in April 1989, while this was the first time they’d conceded five in a World Cup qualifying match since September 1993, a 5-1 loss to Spain.
• Only Jimmy Greaves (six) and Gary Lineker (five) have scored more hat-tricks for England than Harry Kane (four), while Kane has gone level with Greaves in joint-fourth position on 44 goals in England’s history.
• England's starting XI tonight had 451 caps between them, the most for an England starting XI under Gareth Southgate and most since September 2013 vs Ukraine (471).

ESR making tracks...

England

England's Harry Kane, speaking to 91Èȱ¬ Radio 5 live: "Great night for the team first and foremost. An important result for us and just the way we went about it. To go 5-0 at half time shows the character of the squad. We had a bit of a disappointing performance last time we were here at Wembley and we wanted to put that right and we did that. A great night all round and we can look forward to Monday.

"We were looking to be ruthless all around the pitch, not just in the box or the finishing, we wanted to make it a tough night for them to show the country and the world what we are capable of and I think we did that.

"We will keep doing what we are doing, keep working hard as a team and a squad and hopefully keep improving. Still to get the job done on Monday.

"Whenever I score I seem to be sharp, whenever I don't I'm not sharp anymore. That is part and parcel of being a striker. The most important thing is we are moving forward as a team."

England

Engand manager Gareth Southgate, speaking to ITV: "The first half was fantastic, as well as we've played for a long time. It was hard to maintain that.

"We're best when we have an edge. We didn't produce what we should against Hungary but we had a game tonight that could put us on the verge of qualifcation for the World Cup.

"I thought Harry [Kane] gave a brilliant centre forward's performance - held the ball up, played other people in. HIs all-round game was excellent."

Asked whether he will sign a new contract: "We need a point [to qualify] and it would be wrong for my attention to be anywhere else. It's an irrelevance for me. I'm under contract, I'm very well backed and supported and my focus is just on getting qualification done."

A knee slide from your centre-half.

Celebration of the night.

Image source, Getty Images

Rob Green
Former England goalkeeper on 91Èȱ¬ Radio 5 Live

Harry Kane enjoys playing in this team. He has got the service, he loves scoring goals. He could have scored more. He plays with confidence on the front foot and I think that is the difference. They were all on the front foot from the first minute. The response from the Hungary game was emphatic.

England

England captain and hat-trick scorer Harry Kane, speaking to ITV: "The first half was an incredible performance. The pressure was on and we needed a result. It's a great way to get closer to qualifying."Whenever you put on an England shirt you want to do everyone proud. Maybe we had a point to prove and we came out on fire.

"Whenever I get chances I feel like I'm going to score. I could probably have had six on another night."

Asked about reports manager Gareth Southgate is close to signing a new contract: "I know me and a lot of the lads love Gareth and we want him to stay as long as possible. That's his decision and we'll back him whatever he does. We need one more win on Monday [against San Marino] and then we can enjoy a fantastic year."

WHAT A FINISH IN ROME!

Jorginho is handed a chance to win the game for Italy from the penalty spot in the final minute. He steps up and blazes it over!

It means Italy and Switzerland remain level on 15 points, with the qualification race in Group C going to the final game.

Wow.

Rob Green
Former England goalkeeper on 91Èȱ¬ Radio 5 Live

Outstanding performance, one of the best I have seen by an England team in the flesh.

You can say it is Albania but the movement and the way things came off. From the first minute, the combinations, they did it to perfection.

High fives, pats on the back and hugs all round for England.

A job well done and they should complete the job on Monday.

Get those flight reservations sorted.

A spectator makes a beeline towards the centre of the pitch, he almost gets there but is tackled on the edge of the centre circle by a tough steward.

Our pitch invader has a second go at it but the steward is not letting go.

All over.

A convincing victory for England and Qatar is within sight.

A point against San Marino on Monday will do it.

Some lady near us in the crowd really wants Jack Grealish to score.

30 seconds to make her day...

SteveK: In playing training ground tippy-tappy these fringe players are hardly making a strong case for inclusion in any starting eleven.

Theo: The paper planes have been the most entertaining part of this second half

Two minutes of it.

Super six? Not this time as Trent Alexander-Arnold sees a rasping drive blocked.

Rob Green
Former England goalkeeper on 91Èȱ¬ Radio 5 Live

Nights like these as an England player, you play at Wembley and you really do dream of these moments and you have to remember this feeling because when it goes as well as it did in the first half it is really something to be a part of.