England Under-21s responded to boss Gareth Southgate’s request for them to be more ruthless in devastating style — by clocking up a record win against San Marino to end 2013 in style.
There was no let-up or sympathy shown for the hapless visitors as Southgate’s charges eased into a three goal lead inside 20 minutes to set themselves up for what was a giant scoreline at any level.
From the moment Michael Keane headed home England’s first, the third time in four games he has opened the scoring, the Three Lions were in clinical form to keep their lead in Euro qualifying group one.
A brace apiece for Raheem Sterling and Danny Ings added to a trademark free-kick from James Ward-Prowse and goals from Tom Ince, Carl Jenkinson and Will Hughes to see England home.
England’s first real sight of goal came after 10 minutes, when Hughes shot inches wide following a knock-back from Tom Ince.
Two minutes later England took the lead through Keane, who planted a firm header to place Ince’s corner just inside the post.
And the Three Lions did not have to wait long for their second, with Sterling breaking into the box from the left, collecting the ball back off a ricochet and smashing home from close range.
There was another swiftly after that, when Ince won the ball off a defender on the right and delivered a perfect cross for Ings, who flicked a text-book header past keeper Andrea Manzaroli.
Poor Manzaroli was then left clutching at thin air again in the 24th minute as Ward-Prowse curled home a marvellous free-kick from 25 yards, expertly whipping the ball over the wall and into the top corner to make it 4-0.
Ings then turned provider just before the break as he latched on to Hughes’ slide-rule pass in the box and drilled a low cross to the far post, where Ince was on hand to side-foot into an open goal.
England only had to wait two minutes after the restart to open their second-half account too, as Lingard’s mis-hit shot across goal was diverted into the path of both Ings and Jenkinson, with the Burnley striker beating his room-mate to the ball on the line to poke home from close range.
San Marino now had all 10 outfield players defending their area in a bid to stem the flow of England goals, but they had no answer just shy of the hour mark as Ince lifted a fine pass over the last man for Sterling to lob over Manzaroli for 7-0.
Jenkinson then got in on the act, galloping into the area to drive a low finish under the exposed Manzaroli to score his first goal for England.
Hughes followed suit to get his first for the Under-21s by showing great close control to weave his way into the area before placing a right-footer past an increasingly helpless Manzaroli.
The Sammarinese keeper was spared more embarrassment soon after that when he picked up a knock from a clash with England sub Patrick Bamford and was replaced by Michele Berardi with eight minutes left.
And Berardi was probably amongst the happiest men in Shropshire as he managed to keep out any further goals from England, who now must wait until March before they play again when Wales – who earlier this year lost to San Marino Under-21s – are the visitors.
England Under-21s: 1 Jack Butland (c) (13 Jonathan Bond, ht), 2 Carl Jenkinson, 3 Jack Robinson, 5 John Stones (15 Eric Dier, 62), 6 Michael Keane; 4 Will Hughes, 8 James Ward-Prowse; 7 Tom Ince (17 Patrick Bamford, 65), 10 Jesse Lingard, 11 Raheem Sterling; 9 Danny Ings.
Substitutes not used: 12 Luke Shaw, 13 Jonathan Bond, 14 Nathaniel Chalobah, 16 Wilfried Zaha , 18 Ravel Morrison.
Head coach: Gareth Southgate
Goals: Michael Keane (13), Raheem Sterling (15, 59), Danny Ings (17 &47), James Ward-Prowse (24), Tom Ince (42), Carl Jenkinson (61), Will Hughes (78)
San Marino: 1 Andrea Manzaroli (12 Michele Berardi, 82), 2 Gian Luca Proli, 3 Daniele Martini, 4 Cristian Brolli, 5 Mirco Ciambotta n (16 Angelo Faetanini, 69), 6 Juri Biordi, 7 Lorenzo Liverani (15 Davide Cesarini, 69), 8 Eugenio Colombini (c), 9 Marco Bernardi, 10 Alessandro Golinucci, 11 Manuel Battistini.
Substitutes not used: 13 Nicolo Angelini, 14 Maximiliano Baizan, 17 Andrea Zavoli, 18 Alessandro Zonzini.
Head coach: Pier Angelo Manzaroli.
Referee: Gunnar Jarl Jonsson
Assistant referees: Gylfi Mar Sigurdsson & Birkir Sigurdarson
Fourth official: Erlender Eiriksson.
Attendance: 9264
Subscribe to the official YouTube channel of the England football team featuring exclusive news, match highlights and more at
To find out more about the England team log on to:
Become a fan of England on Facebook at
And follow us on Twitter at